A Comparison of Oral Contraceptive and Non-Hormonal Contraceptive Use in Women Over 40

Abstract

Objective To compare the continuation rate, cycle control and clinical change of combined oral
contraceptives (COCs) and non-hormonal contraceptive methods in women over 40 years of
age.
Design Comparative study.
Setting Family Planning Unit of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.
Subjects 29 women aged over 40 years using low-dose COCs and 30 women using
non-hormonal contraceptive methods. (IUD)
Methods Subjects in COC group and non-hormonal group were supplied with diary cards to
record pills taking, bleeding characteristics and side effects. Each subject was scheduled to
come to follow-up visit after the first, third and sixth menstrual cycles.
Main outcome measures Continuation rate, cycle control and clinical change of the methods
Results The two groups were comparable in terms of baseline characteristics at the beginning.
Continuation rate was 92.6 % in COC group and 93.3 % in non-hormonal group. Compliance of
COC group was 77.6 %. None of the women became pregnant during the study. Significantly
better cycle control was exhibited in COC group, as evidenced by more women with regular
cycle than in non-hormonal group (100 % VS 63.3 %). There were no changes in body weight
and blood pressure in both groups. No significant difference in side effects was also found.
Conclusion COCs had good acceptability, high efficacy and could be used safely in women over
40 years old.