J Korean Med Assoc.  2017 Aug;60(8):687-693. 10.5124/jkma.2017.60.8.687.

Clinical use of oral contraceptives

• Kim JS
• Cho S

• KMID: 2388122
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2017.60.8.687

Abstract

Since first introduction of oral contraceptive pills in 1960, with increased women's right of sexual decision, oral contraceptives had been used widely around the globe as a highly effective and safe contraceptive method. The physiological mechanisms of oral contraceptives were a reduced maturation of ovarian follicles and blocked ovulation to fertile women. Also, oral pills induce uterine endometrial decidualization, thickening of cervical mucus, disturbance of intrauterine sperm movement and embryo implantation. However, in addition to providing effective reversible contraception to fertile women, oral contraceptive pills offer various non-contraceptive benefits to numerous conditions. In this review, we summarize the list of currently available oral contraceptive pills in Korea and discuss non-contraceptive indications of oral contraceptives pills.

Keyword

Contraceptives, oral; Non-contraceptive benefits

MeSH Terms

Cervix Mucus
Contraception
Contraceptives, Oral*
Embryo Implantation
Female
Humans
Korea
Ovarian Follicle
Ovulation
Pregnancy
Spermatozoa
Women's Rights
Contraceptives, Oral

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