2008/08/19 by Johannes C. Huber, Eva-Katrin Bentz, Johannes Ott +1 · 3 citations
Medicine · #Acne #Cancer #Developed country #Endometrial cancer #Endometriosis #Environmental health #Family planning #Gynecology #Internal medicine #Intraperitoneal and Appendiceal Malignancies #Medicine #Menstrual Health and Disorders #Obstetrics #Pelvic inflammatory disease #Population #Psychological intervention #Reproductive Health and Contraception #Research methodology
paper · doi:10.1517/14656566.9.13.2317
openalex publication_date 2008/08/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
BACKGROUND: There is increasing awareness of the opportunity that many contraceptive interventions may provide for additional health benefits. However, treatment of medical problems with oral contraceptives (OCs) is often an 'off-label' practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to summarize available data on non-contraceptive benefits of OCs. METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS: OCs have been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer. It has been suggested that OCs may be used in treatment of endometriosis, menorrhagia, and uterine leiomyomas. Pelvic inflammatory disease, dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and acne have been shown to improve under OCs. CONCLUSION: OCs are important for global and female health. Besides contraception, non-contraceptive effects of OCs are evidence based, well established, and commonly used in clinical practice.