Two problems in oral contraception: arteriosclerotic cardiopathy and drug interactions

The Authors examine two aspects of oral contraception: the risk of arteriosclerotic cardiopathy and the interaction with other drugs. The former is rather limited but increases significantly when other arteriosclerotic risk factors, first and foremost smoke, are present. The dose of both the estrogenic and the progestinic components also influences the risk. The Authors examine the most recent information on the interference of some drugs with the contraceptive effectiveness of synthetic, especially low-dose, estroprogestinics, which is mediated by changes of the intestinal absorption or metabolic clearance rate. Finally, they analyse the interference of contraceptive steroids with the kinetics of other drugs and, consequently, with the intensity of therapeutical and side effects.