Combined hormonal contraception

Health benefits

Fertility related benefits

• Prevention of pregnancy
• Offers protection against ectopic pregnancy

Menstrual benefits

• Menstrual cycle stabilization
• Reduced iron deficiency anaemia due to lighter menstrual cycles
• More regular menstrual cycles
• Less dysmenorrhea
• Less severe pre-menstrual symptoms

ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Hum Reprod Update 11:513-525, 2005

Non-contraceptive Health benefits

Protection from some cancers e.g. endometrial and ovarian cancers, up to 50% risk reduction

Protection against benign diseases e.g. benign breast diseases like fibrocystic and fibroadenomatosis disease decreased by 50-70%

Other possible health benefits

• Protection against pelvic inflammatory diseases
• Reduces risk of follicular cyst by 50% and corpus luteal cyst by 80%
• Past contraceptive use protects women after they reach menopause; reduced risk of low bone mineral density was documented
• Reduction in acne

ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Hum Reprod Update 11:513-525, 2005