Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP): Side Effects, Uses, Indication, Types

Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP): Advantage, Disadvantage, Complications

Definition of Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP):

OCP means Oral contraceptive pill. Hormonal contraceptives used are the most effective spacing methods of contraception. Oral contraceptives of combined types are almost hundred percent effective in preventing pregnancy.

Oral contraceptives, abbreviated OCPs, also known as birth control pills, are medications taken by mouth for the purpose of birth control.

Classification or Types of Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP):

1. Combined pills: It is 100% effective, Contain oestrogen and progesterone.
2. Mini pill: It is 97-98% effective, it contain only progesterone.
3. Morning after pill.
4. It contains only oestrogen.

Advantages of Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP):

Benefits of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP):

It includes the following:

1. 99% effective- low failure rate (0.1/100 wy)
2. Aesthetically – attractive.
3. Sense of well-being.
4. Not interference with sexual act.
5. Reversible.
6. Reasonably cheap & available.
7. It is self-administered.
8. Does not impair subsequent fertility.
9. Some nor-contraceptive advantages eg. protection against:

• Benign breast disease,
• Fibroadenoma of breast,
• Endometriosis,
• Ovarian carcinoma,
• PID,
• Iron deficiency anaemia,
• Dysmenorrhoea,
• Premenstrual tension,
• Idiopathic hirsuitism.

Side Effects of Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP):

Disadvantages of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP):

Adverse Effect of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP):

Complications of Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP):

Minor disadvantages:

• Nausea & vomiting,
• Weight gain,
• Break through bleeding or spotting,
• Reduced menstrual bleeding,
• Absence of withdrawal bleeding,
• Others- headache, dizziness, breast tenderness, chloasma, abdominal cramps, emotional changes such as depression.

Major disadvantages:

Cardiovascular effects:

OCP causes increased risk of-

• Thromboembolism,
• Coronary artery diseases,
• Atherosclerosis.

Metabolic effects:

• ↓HDL,
• ↑Cholesterol effect of oestrogen,
• ↑LDL.

Hepatic effects:

• Gall stone,
• Chlolestatic jaundice,
• Ca of liver.

Psychological effects:

• Depression – due lack of vit. B6.

Indications of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP):

1. Contraceptive Use:

2. Non-contraceptive Uses / Benefits:

It includes:

• To reduce premenstrual tension,
• Dysmenorrhoea,
• Abnormal uterine bleeding,
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding,
• Functional ovarian cyst,
• Benign breast disease,
• Sterility,
• Endometriosis,
• Menopause.

Contra-Indications of Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCP):

Absolute (WHO category-4):

1. History of CVS disease,
2. Liver disease (ch. Hepatitis),
3. Breast cancer,
4. DVT,
5. Pulmonary embolism,
6. Migraine,
7. Liver adenoma.

Relative (WHO category-3):

• HTN,
• Obesity,
• Migraine,
• Endogenous smoking,
• Heavy smoking,
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding,
• Past breast cancer.

Special Precaution (WHO-2):

1. DM,
2. Collagen diseases,
3. Osteosclerosis,
4. Severe varicose veins,
5. Sickle cell disease,
6. Surgical operation,
7. History of depression,
8. Age over 35 years,
9. Cancer cervix or CIN.

More questions related to this article:

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