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. 2012 Dec;86(6):659-65.
doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.05.017. Epub 2012 Jul 6.

Types of combined oral contraceptives used by US women

Kelli Stidham Hall  1 , James Trussell
Affiliations

Types of combined oral contraceptives used by US women

Kelli Stidham Hall et al. Contraception. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

Background: We sought to estimate the prevalence of types of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) used among US women.

Study design: We analyzed interview-collected data from 12,279 women aged 15-44 years participating in the National Survey of Family Growth, 2006-2010. Analyses focused on COC use overall, by pill type, across sociodemographics and health factors.

Results: The prevalence of current COC use (88 different brands) was 17%. The majority of COC users used earlier-formulation COCs: ≥30 mcg (67%) versus <30 mcg estrogen (33%), monophasic (67%) versus multiphasic (33%) dosages and traditional 21/7 (88%) versus extended/other cycle regimens (12%) regimens. Norgestimate (32%) and norethindrone (20%) were the most commonly used progestins. Sociodemographic, gynecological and health risk factors were associated with type of COC use.

Conclusion: Further investigation of specific COC use and of the factors associated with types of pills used among US women at the population level is needed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement: None of the authors have a conflict of interest.

Comment in

  • Response to letter to the editor.
    Hall KS, Trussell J. Hall KS, et al. Contraception. 2013 Jul;88(1):193. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.014. Epub 2013 Jan 10. Contraception. 2013. PMID: 23375355 No abstract available.
  • Types of combined oral contraceptives used by US women.
    Creinin MD. Creinin MD. Contraception. 2013 Jul;88(1):192-3. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.12.015. Epub 2013 Jan 14. Contraception. 2013. PMID: 23410715 No abstract available.

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