Combined hormonal contraception

Is taking the pill associated with fewer health risks than pregnancy?

Answer: Only 4%strongly agreed!

Misperceptions about pills & pregnancy!

• Women appear to overestimate the risk of hormonal contraception and underestimate the risk of pregnancy
• They might not be aware of any additional non-contraceptive benefits

Strategies to improve adherence, acceptability, continuance of hormonal methods of contraception and to prevent unwanted pregnancies

• Increase access to hormonal contraception
• Dispel myths and misperceptions about hormonal contraception
• Raise awareness and knowledge about additional benefits of hormonal contraception
• Improve prescribing practice
  • Improve physicians knowledge
  • Structured counseling including the choice to choose

Making evidence from studies in practice

• Acne
• Weight
• Cardiovascular events
• Cancer

Using hormonal contraceptives leads to future infertility

FACT:
Studies confirm that hormonal contraceptive does not lead to infertility

• When taking hormonal contraceptives, return to ovulation can occur as quickly as 2 weeks after cessation of the contraception¹
• Advancing age plays a role in infertility²
  • A woman’s fertility peaks between the ages of 20 and 30/li>
  • After 30, fertility slowly declines until menopause
  • Because a woman may not have tried to become pregnant before, she may not have been aware of any infertility issues

¹ Hatcher RA, Trussel Nelson AL, Cates W Jr. Stewart F, Kowal Contraceptve Technology. 19th Ed. New York, NY: Ardent Media: 2007
² Wilson JR, Carrington ER, Ledger WJ, eds. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 7th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby 1983.