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  • Title: Experts debate pill switching to combat noncompliance. Special report: annual pill survey.
    Journal: Contracept Technol Update; 1992 Oct; 13(10):149-53. PubMed ID: 12344722.
    Abstract:
    Oral contraceptive (OCs) users continue to complain of side effects such as headaches, mood swings, and weight gain, and switch pill formulations. Questionnaires for an annual oral contraceptive survey were mailed to subscribers in the May 1992 issue of Contraceptive Technology Update (CTU) 137 of 1600 surveys mailed were returned for a response rate of 8.5%. 64% of the respondents were nurse practitioners, 19% were physicians, 7% were physician assistants, 5% were registered nurses, and 5% were other types of providers. OC users tend to blame headaches, mood swings, or gaining weight on the pills. The CTU survey found that more than 60% of health care providers would advocate switching to a lower-dose estrogen pill or to a progestin-only pill for headaches and mood swings. For weight gain their first choice of treatment would be counseling about life style changes. 50-60% of American women discontinue OCs in the first year, mainly because of side effects such as breakthrough bleeding, headaches, nausea, weight gain, and acne. 89% of respondents said few women had sever, recurring headaches, but should that occur 66% of respondents would change to a lower-dose estrogen pill. Only 9% of respondents would recommend relaxation exercises and analgesics. 67% of respondents would change the pill formulation before suggesting a life style change when patients complain about mood swings. Ortho Novum 7/7/7 was the pill of choice for 61% of survey respondents, and Triphasil was the 2nd choice by 43%. An international group of physicians recommended that manufacturers, physicians, and OC providers take the lead in providing patients with acceptable counseling concerning correct OC use.
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