Improving patient success with oral contraceptives: the importance of counseling

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are highly effective in protecting against pregnancy if used correctly and consistently. They also offer noncontraceptive health benefits. The prescriber must understand the myriad factors contributing to success with OCs and other birth control methods, including characteristics and habits of successful users, real and perceived fears about adverse effects, and packaging issues. A woman's experiences with previous methods influence later success or failure with OCs.