The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released a new practice bulletin on hormonal contraception use in women with preexisting medical conditions.
Even though published studies have documented the safety and effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives in healthy women, data are less conclusive for women with such underlying conditions as hypertension, diabetes, migraines, fibrocystic breast tissue, uterine fibroids, or elevated cholesterol level.
In women with these conditions or other special circumstances, such as having a family history of breast cancer, decisions about prescribing oral contraceptives may be complicated. For some women, medications for a chronic condition may alter a contraceptive's effectiveness. An unintended pregnancy could pose substantial health risks for the woman and her unborn child.
According to 1995 figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, 10.4 million women in the United State use oral contraceptive pills, 1.1 million use injections (Depo-Provera), and 515,000 use implants for . . . [Full Text of this Article]
