Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Oral contraception: past, present, and future perspectives.

D R Mishell1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.

International Journal of Fertility
|January 11, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Low-dose oral contraceptives (OCs) maintain excellent efficacy while offering improved health benefits for healthy, nonsmoking women. These formulations effectively prevent pregnancy without significant adverse metabolic or cardiovascular risks.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Circulating androgen levels before and after oophorectomy in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2019
Same author

Endometrial effect of progesterone delivered by vaginal rings in estrogen-treated postmenopausal women.

Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society·2010
Same author

Contraceptive vaginal rings.

Seminars in reproductive medicine·2001
Same author

Levonorgestrel concentrations during 7 years of continuous use of Jadelle contraceptive implants.

Contraception·2001
Same author

Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and endometrial thickness after medical abortion.

Contraception·2001
Same author

Ovarian function during use of vaginal rings delivering three different doses of Nestorone.

Contraception·2001

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Pharmacology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Oral contraceptives (OCs) have been available since 1960, with formulations evolving significantly over time.
  • Early OCs contained higher doses of estrogen and progestogen, while modern formulations utilize markedly lower doses.
  • Understanding the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of OCs is crucial for patient safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of current low-dose oral contraceptive formulations.
  • To assess the metabolic and lipoprotein profiles associated with low-dose OCs.
  • To review the noncontraceptive health benefits of oral contraceptives.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on oral contraceptive formulations, efficacy, and side effects.
  • Analysis of the hormonal components (estrogen and progestogen) and their physiological effects.
  • Examination of cardiovascular risk factors, including thrombotic events, in OC users.

Main Results:

  • Low-dose OCs demonstrate excellent contraceptive efficacy comparable to earlier high-dose formulations.
  • Estrogen in OCs can influence lipid profiles (HDL, LDL) and clotting factors.
  • Progestogens can induce insulin resistance and affect lipid metabolism.
  • Nicotine use, especially in women over 35, synergistically increases thrombotic risk with OCs.
  • Healthy, nonsmoking women using OCs with <50 mcg estrogen show no increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
  • Low-dose formulations have neutral effects on glucose and lipoprotein metabolism.
  • Noncontraceptive health benefits of OCs are preserved with lower doses.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose oral contraceptives are safe and effective for pregnancy prevention in healthy, nonsmoking women.
  • These formulations offer improved metabolic profiles and maintain noncontraceptive health benefits.
  • Risk of thrombotic events is minimal in healthy, nonsmoking users, but caution is advised for smokers over 35.

Related Experiment Videos