The safety and efficacy of low-dose oral contraceptives

AbstractOral contraceptives (OCs) are classified according to the dosage of ethinyloestradiol (EE) and type of progestogen, and whether the dosages of EE and progestogen stay the same during the cycle, or change in a phasic manner. Ultimately, there is no statistically significant difference in efficacy between high-dose and low-dose OCs. There is also no difference in efficacy between monophasic and multiphasic products, which, other than having a lower hormone content, have no benefit over monophasic products.Several medications, such as rifampicin, some of the anticonvulsants and certain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medications, may reduce the efficacy of OCs. Higher-dose OC preparations are recommended in patients taking these concomitant drugs.The effectiveness of OCs with typical use is largely dependent on compliance, which is influenced by bleeding patterns and side-effects. In this regard, the composition of an OC may play a significant role. The dosage of EE and type of progestogen may rel...