Abstract
The Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study is a continuing cohort survey of the effects of oral contraceptives on the health of users. Neurotic depression is associated with the oestrogen content of combined oral contraceptives, but the risk is small in general, and there is no excess risk associated with oestrogen doses of 35 micrograms or less. It now appears likely that, in the long-term, oral contraceptives are not associated with any increased risk of gallbladder disease, although there is an acceleration of the disease in those women susceptible to it. The progestogen activity of combined oral contraceptives is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and arterial disease. Duration of use no longer seems to influence the occurrence of the latter. Cigarette smoking by oral contraceptive users is the predominant associated risk factor for the occurrence of arterial diseases. Non-smokers using low-progestogen-dose brands may safely use oral contraceptives, probably up to the age of 45 years. In the author's opinion, there is no convincing evidence that oral contraceptive use increases the risk of breast cancer. The evidence for an association with cervical cancer is firmer, but, if confirmed, is unlikely to affect more than one in 3000 users a year. Increased safety in the use of oral contraceptives in future is likely to be achieved through the use of tests which will allow the adjustment of dose to be made to each patient's particular requirements.
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study: some recent observations.
A1 - Kay,C R,
PY - 1984/12/1/pubmed
PY - 1984/12/1/medline
PY - 1984/12/1/entrez
KW - Arterial Occlusive Diseases
KW - Behavior
KW - Biliary Tract Diseases
KW - Biology
KW - Breast Cancer
KW - Cancer
KW - Cardiovascular Effects
KW - Cervical Cancer
KW - Contraception
KW - Contraceptive Agents
KW - Contraceptive Agents, Female
KW - Contraceptive Methods--side effects
KW - Depression
KW - Developed Countries
KW - Diseases
KW - Europe
KW - Family Planning
KW - Gallbladder Diseases
KW - Mental Disorders
KW - Neoplasms
KW - Northern Europe
KW - Oral Contraceptives--side effects
KW - Physiology
KW - Research Methodology
KW - Sampling Studies
KW - Smoking
KW - Social Behavior
KW - Studies
KW - Surveys
KW - United Kingdom
KW - Vascular Diseases
SP - 759
EP - 86
JF - Clinics in obstetrics and gynaecology
JO - Clin Obstet Gynaecol
VL - 11
IS - 3
N2 - The Royal College of General Practitioners' Oral Contraception Study is a continuing cohort survey of the effects of oral contraceptives on the health of users. Neurotic depression is associated with the oestrogen content of combined oral contraceptives, but the risk is small in general, and there is no excess risk associated with oestrogen doses of 35 micrograms or less. It now appears likely that, in the long-term, oral contraceptives are not associated with any increased risk of gallbladder disease, although there is an acceleration of the disease in those women susceptible to it. The progestogen activity of combined oral contraceptives is associated with an increased risk of hypertension and arterial disease. Duration of use no longer seems to influence the occurrence of the latter. Cigarette smoking by oral contraceptive users is the predominant associated risk factor for the occurrence of arterial diseases. Non-smokers using low-progestogen-dose brands may safely use oral contraceptives, probably up to the age of 45 years. In the author's opinion, there is no convincing evidence that oral contraceptive use increases the risk of breast cancer. The evidence for an association with cervical cancer is firmer, but, if confirmed, is unlikely to affect more than one in 3000 users a year. Increased safety in the use of oral contraceptives in future is likely to be achieved through the use of tests which will allow the adjustment of dose to be made to each patient's particular requirements.
SN - 0306-3356
UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/6509858/The_Royal_College_of_General_Practitioners'_Oral_Contraception_Study:_some_recent_observations_
DB - PRIME
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -