By Nancy Deutsch
NEW YORK, May 05 (Reuters Health) - The birth control pill turned 40 this
week, and researchers report there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.
The Pill has become the primary method of birth control in many countries
and is considered to be one of the safest medications available. More women are
recognizing its noncontraceptive health benefits than ever before, according to
the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG).
In fact, Dr. Michael Randell, a gynecologist in Atlanta, Georgia,
occasionally recommends the Pill for women who do not require a form of birth
control.
"I have a lot of patients on the Pill who have had tubal ligations," he
said. Women may take oral contraceptives to regulate their periods, decrease
their risk for rheumatoid arthritis or reduce their risk of osteoporosis, he
told Reuters Health.
Birth control pills contain much lower levels of estrogen and progestin than
they used to, and can regulate menstruation, clear up acne and reduce the risk
of ovarian and endometrial cancer, according to ACOG.
In a Gallup survey of 750 women aged 18 and older conducted for ACOG last
month, 48% of those surveyed knew that the Pill had benefits in addition to its
ability to prevent pregnancy, up from 42% in a poll assessing women's knowledge
of the Pill conducted in 1993. Forty-one percent of women think there are
substantial health risks associated with taking oral contraceptives, down from
76% in 1985.
However, there are few risks unless a woman has high blood pressure or
smokes, noted Richard D. Blackburn, a John Hopkins University researcher who led
a worldwide analysis of women's use of the Pill. The analysis is published in
Population Reports, the John Hopkin's journal. Blackburn told Reuters Health he
was surprised the Gallup poll shows women could name acne reduction as a benefit
of the Pill, but not know its other more important benefits. "It's interesting
that women know more about acne than endometrial cancer or other things," he
said.
Blackburn's study found that 80% of women born since 1945 in the United
States have used birth control pills at some point in their life.
The Pill was found to be the most popular contraceptive method in 78 of 150
countries surveyed by Blackburn and colleagues. Outside of India and China, it
is one of the most popular forms of contraceptives and is used by 12% of married
women, they report.
While sterilization is the most popular form of contraception in the US
according to other studies, the Pill is the contraceptive method that has been
tried by most women here of childbearing age, Blackburn explained.
Birth control pills will probably be around to see many more birthdays,
Randell said, but they are likely in for some changes, and perhaps even a
decrease in popularity. Other new forms of contraception may be coming onto the
market that could give the Pill competition for its market share. Among these
are the vaginal contraceptive ring, monthly injectables, and even a male
contraceptive pill, Randell noted.
