Assessing the impact of hormonal contraceptive use on menstrual health among women of reproductive age – a systematic review
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Authors
Jahanfar, Shayesteh
Mortazavi, Julie
Lapidow, Amy
Cu, Cassandra
Al Abosy, Jude
Ciana, Hartman
Morris, Katherine
Steinfeldt, Meredith
Maurer, Olivia
Bohang, Jiang
Issue Date
2024-07-15
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Background: Contraceptive methods are well-established in their ability to prevent pregnancy and increase individual agency in childbearing. Evidence suggests that contraceptives can also be used to treat adverse conditions associated with menstruation, including abnormal and prolonged uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and premenstrual dysphoric disorders.This review investigates the effects of contraceptive techniques such as contraceptive pills, and long-acting reversible contraceptives (e.g. intrauterine devices, implants) on menstrual morbidity.
Methods: Over ten databases with no geographical boundaries were searched from inception until October 2023. Study designs were one of the following types to be included: parallel or cluster randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, controlled before and after studies, interrupted time series studies, cohort or longitudinal analyses, regression discontinuity designs, and case-control studies. Ten team members screened the papers in pairs with a Kappa score of more than 7, and Covidence was used. Conflicts were resolved by discussion, and the full papers were divided among the reviewers to extract the data from eligible studies.
Results: Hormonal contraceptives are considered a well-tolerated, non-invasive, and clinically effective treatment for abnormal and prolonged uterine bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and premenstrual dysphoric disorders. Our studies investigating quality of life or well-being in women with heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids have found improvements in all dimensions assessed.
Conclusions: Hormonal contraceptives significantly reduce pain, symptom severity, and abnormal bleeding patterns associated with women who suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
Description
Citation
Publisher
The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care
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Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
1473-0782