[Side effects of hormonal contraception]

Female sex hormones have an influence not only on the reproductive process, but on nearly all organs and functional systems. This explains their broad spectre of side-effects, which by their degree of subjective annoyance may impair the acceptability of hormonal contraception or--through a suggested risk to the patient--even enforce discontinuation of medication. The significance of quite a number of alterations in biochemical and metabolic parameters cannot yet be fully elucidated. The author offers a summary of the principal side-effects of present-day hormonal contraceptives.