[Contraception in women with diabetes mellitus]

Contraception in women suffering of diabetes mellitus is an important question mainly due to it has been proven that pregnancy outcome both for the fetus and for the mother depends on glycemic control before conception right to delivery. That's made planning of future pregnancy mandatory for patients with diabetes mellitus. Patients are advised for contraception until optimization of metabolic control has been achieved or until complete and contemporary treatment of the diabetes complications has been fulfilled. Incorrect contraceptive method could extend metabolic disorders and to reinforce vascular complications of the diabetes. Choice of contraception depends on the aim: short lasting contraception aiming on future pregnancy planning or long lasting contraception aiming on family planning. In women with diabetes mellitus it is extremely important to take into consideration such factors as type of the diabetes, its lasting, degree of metabolic compensation, presence of diabetic complications, body-mass index of the patient, presence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and future pregnancy planning. In cases when pregnancy is planning it has been preferred local contraception, such as condoms, diaphragms. In cases of nullipara or in women with plenty of partners, condoms are method of choice. In women who gave birth intrauterine device is such a method. In women with diabetes mellitus type I (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) it is possible to use hormonal contraception depending on patient's request or on medical indications only in cases when diabetes has less than 15 years duration and microangiopathic complications and other vascular risk factors lack. Combined hormonal contraceptive preparations have to contain less than 30 microg ethinylestradiol and gestagen of "third" or "fourth" generation. This contraception has to be prescribed together with insulin dosage correction and demands on strict metabolic control of the diabetes and body weight. When the combined preparations are contraindicated it could be suggested progestagenic oral hormonal contraception if gynecologic contraindications lack and if this not leads to menstrual disturbances. In women with diabetes mellitus type II (non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus) combined hormonal contraceptives has not to be used, because they could provoke clinical manifestation and deteriorate progress of the diabetes mellitus.