Combined Oral Contraceptive in Adolescent and Young Adult Women: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

Agnese Maria Chiara Rapisarda, Roberta Brescia, Fabrizio Sapia, Gaetano Valenti, Giuseppe Sarpietro, Luisa Maria Di Gregorio, Anna Nunzia Della Gatta, Valentina Lucia La Rosa, Claudia Sergiampietri, Luigi Della Corte, Caterina Monaco
In: Current Women s Health Reviews · 2018 · vol. 15(2) , pp. 109–118 · doi:10.2174/1573404814666180914162053 · W2889623179
article OA: closed CC0
View on OpenAlex View at publisher

Abstract

Background: The use of effective contraceptive methods must be encouraged among adolescents, not only to prevent unintended pregnancies but also to promote the sexual health and well-being of these young people. In effect, hormonal contraceptives offer several benefits beyond prevention of pregnancy to every woman, in particular to adolescents (e.g., dysmenorrhea, irregular bleeding, hirsutism, acne); moreover, they can be a targeted therapy for some gynecological diseases (e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome), to ensure a better quality of life. Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the different formulations of COCs for adolescent and young adult women, and analyze their efficacy, safety, and benefits of specific pathological conditions. Methods: We screened published literature on PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus, using as keywords “oral contraceptive” in adolescent and young adult women. We included only articles in English about the COCs, different regimens and formulations. Results: Our literature analysis allows us to underline the important role of COC not only as birth control method, but also as valid treatments for gynecological disorders related to hormonal fluctuations (e.g., dysmenorrhea, irregular bleeding, hirsutism, acne) and pathological diseases, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, with a preventive role for fertility preservation and pelvic inflammatory disease. Conclusion: Adequate, care and competent counseling is the key to achieve good compliance of young women with contraception. Through the “GATHER” method suggested by WHO, health care providers should first evaluate the balance between benefits and risks of hormonal treatment, create an appropriate safety profile and then recommend COC prescription in adolescent and young women.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosisdysmenorrhea

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (100)

Source provenance

openalex
last seen: 2026-06-04T00:00:01.174412+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK