Nationwide, about 11.2 million women ages 15 to 44, or 18 percent of all U.S. women, currently
use oral contraceptive pills.
Among women
using oral contraceptive pills, we assessed the reported number of pills missed per pack over the study period.
Not exact matches
Worldwide about 144 million women
use hormonal contraception — around 41 million
use the injectable forms and 103 million take the
oral contraceptive pill.
Researchers from the University of California at Berkeley in the USA conducted a meta - analysis of all existing data examining the effect of
using the most commonly prescribed forms of hormonal contraception (combined
oral contraceptives, progestin - only
pills, and the injectable
contraceptives DMPA and norethisterone enanthate) on HIV risk up to June, 2014.
Although estrogen doses in
oral contraceptives have decreased appreciably over the years, with
pills in the 1960s typically containing more than double the estrogen dose of
pills in the 1980s, the reduction in endometrial cancer risk was at least as great for women who
used the
pill during the 1980s as for those who
used it in earlier decades.
Use of
oral contraceptives (usually referred to as «the
pill»), even for just a few years, gives substantial long - term protection against endometrial (womb) cancer, and the longer the
pill is
used the greater the reduction in risk, according to a detailed re-analysis of all the available evidence, published in The Lancet Oncology journal.
Brenda had gone off the
pill several months ago, but she still struggled with hormonal imbalances, which studies show can linger for up to a year after women stop
using oral contraceptives.
Women who
use low - dose
oral contraceptive pills have a two-fold increased risk of a fatal heart attack compared to non - users.9 Women who take
oral contraceptives and smoke have a 12-fold increase in fatal heart attacks and a 3.1-fold increase in fatal brain hemorrhage.10 Women who
use the
Pill after the age of 45 have a 144 percent greater risk of developing breast cancer than women who have never
used it.11
Overall cancer risk from several cancers due to
oral contraceptive use: Kahlenborn C. Breast Cancer, Its Link to abortion and the Birth Control
Pill, 2000.
However, progestin - only
pills are a good choice for breastfeeding women and for women who can't
use combined
oral contraceptives pills.
There are similar risks for younger women who
use oral contraceptives — birth control
pills, which are also comprised of synthetic hormones — have been linked to cervical and breast cancers.
Ethinylestradiol (common in
oral contraceptive pills, this is released into the environment as a xenoestrogen through the urine and feces of women who
use this)
The
pill also increases your risk for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease; in fact, two large prospective cohort studies of American women linked
oral contraceptive use with Crohn's.
William also has an interest in medical product liability claims, having acted in several group actions (including the
Oral Contraceptive Pill, MMR and Depuy Hylamer prosthetic implants cases) and has advised in relation to various medical and surgical products, including the
use of transvaginal mesh.
Oral contraceptives (also known as birth control
pills or BCPs) are
used to prevent pregnancy.
The vast majority of Planned Parenthood health centers offer initial
oral contraceptives and refills on - site, as do three - quarters of health department sites; only one - third of sites operated by FQHCs do so.2 In addition, 99 % of Planned Parenthood health centers allow women to delay a pelvic exam when initiating hormonal
contraceptives and
use the «quick - start» protocol to enable a client to start the
pill on the day of her visit, regardless of where she is in her menstrual cycle.
For example, 35 % of satisfied
oral contraceptive users have skipped at least one
pill in the past three months, compared with 48 % of dissatisfied users.8 Consistent
contraceptive use helps women and couples prevent unwanted pregnancies and plan and space those they do want.
But putting all that aside, let's look at the how
oral contraceptives pills (OCPs) are actually
used in this country, and for what reasons besides contraception.