Use of oral contraceptives in perimenopausal women

Abstract

It has become evident that the risk related solely to OC use in women of older reproductive age cannot be considered as high as the first epidemiological studies had indicated. Moreover, the introduction of new OCs containing low doses of ethinylestradiol associated with gestodene or desogestrel seem not to affect or to exert only minor effects on those metabolic functions (lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, blood pressure, hemostasis) related to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, although only epidemiological data will evaluate the real effect of these new formulations, they do not seem to be contraindicated in perimenopausal women. However, before and during pill treatment, these women, even more than younger ones, must be carefully screened for the presence of those risk factors which, when associated with OC use at this age, may favor the appearance of cardiovascular disease.