Abstract

PIP: Reduced estrogen content has significantly decreased the risks of oral contraceptive (OC) use. However, the systemic effects of OCs, but it is unclear if this change is physiologically significant. Estrogen-mediated inhibition of cortisol levels may contribute to the impairment of glucose tolerance by OCs. Women at high risk for diabetes, older than 35, obese, with family history of diabetes, or who have had glucose intolerance during previous pregnancies should either not take OCs or take pregestin-only pills. OCs raise plasma triglyceride levels 30-50 mg per dl in users of all ages. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is also affected, and cholesterol and triglyceride levelshould be measured before and during OC use. The risk of hepatic adenoma rises with duration of OC use; however, most adenomas diagnosed before hemorrhage have regressed with discontinuation of the contraceptive regimen. The most significant adverse effects of OC use involve the arterial and venous vascular systems. OCs appear to raise the blood pressure in nearly all women. Change in systolic pressure is consistently greater than in diastolic, suggestingthat the primary hypertensive effect of OCs is on blood volume and cardiac output. Accumulated data indicate that if OCs are not used by women older than 35 or by women who smoke or who are hypertensive, then risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage or other cerebrovascular complication is very small. The relative risk of myocardial infarction in OC users has been from 0-6 times greater than in nonusers; this may depend on other confounding risk factors. Reduction in estrogen content of OCs decreases risk accordingly. The preponderance of evidence indicates that prolonged use of OCs does not increase risk of breast disease or ovarian and endometrial cancer, and, in fact, may protect users from malignant lesions by suppressing gonadotropins and ovulation.