Extended cycle combined hormonal contraceptives | |
---|---|
Background | |
Type | Hormonal |
First use | 1993 (first randomized study)[1] |
Pregnancy rates (first year) | |
Perfect use | ? |
Typical use | 0.9% |
Usage | |
Duration effect | varies |
Reversibility | Yes |
User reminders | varies |
Advantages and disadvantages | |
STI protection | No |
Periods | Eliminates or reduces frequency |
Benefits | Reduce menstruation related symptoms, reduce risk of anemia |
Extended or continuous cycle combined oral contraceptive pills are a packaging of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) that reduce or eliminate the withdrawal bleeding that would occur once every 28 days in traditionally packaged COCPs. It works by reducing the frequency of the pill-free or placebo days. Extended cycle use of COCPs may also be called menstrual suppression,[2] although other hormonal medications or medication delivery systems (hormonal intrauterine devices—IUDs) may also be used to suppress menses. Any brand of combined oral contraceptive pills can be used in an extended or continuous manner by simply discarding the placebo pills; this is most commonly done with monophasic pills in which all of the pills in a package contain the same fixed dosing of a synthetic estrogen and a progestin in each active pill.[3]
Other combined hormonal contraceptives (those containing both an estrogen and a progestin) may also be used in an extended or continuous cycle. For example, the NuvaRing vaginal ring[4] and the contraceptive patch[5] have been studied for extended cycle use, and the monthly combined injectable contraceptive may similarly eliminate bleeding.[6]
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: others (link)