[Long-term use of combined hormonal contraception--myths and reality]

To assess relationship of long-term use of combined oral contraception (COC) and women health, discussion about myths connected with use of COC.

Review of literature.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hospital of Merciful Brothers, Brno, Czech Republic.

Identification of studies able to address the topic using Medline database search.

Besides reliable control of fertility COC protect women against dysmenorrhea, iron deficiency anemia, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids. COC plays very important role in gynecologic endocrinology suppressing effectively hyperandrogenism, which has not only cosmetic effect but brings also improvement in cardiovascular health of affected perimenopausal women. Premenopausal using of COC could help preserve bone mineral density and can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The most important feature is protective effect against endometrial (by 70%) and ovarian (by 50%) cancer which increases with duration of COC use and is long lasting and may be observed 15 to 20 years after stopping use. Association of use COC with increased risk neither of cervical cancer nor breast cancer has not been confirmed. Controversy still persists over the association of long-term (longer than 8 years) COC use by young nulliparas and breast cancer. The risk in this group of users is probably slightly increased. But no authorities recommended any restriction of COC's prescription. Some studies have suggested an inverse relationship between use of COC and risk of colorectal cancer. The only established evidence of direct association between OC use and cancer risk is the increased risk for hepatocellular carcinoma in the absence of hepatitis B (but maximum by 4 cases per 1,000,000 users per year).

Most non-contraceptive health benefits of COC are still not widely appreciated in spite of much evidence. The final decision of contraception method is upon well and adequate informed user by well educated doctor.