The Contraindications to Combined Oral Contraceptives among Reproductive-Aged Women in an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic

A Single-Centre Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15469343
AuthorsGhadah Asaad Assiri (0000-0001-7274-5704, King Saud University, corresponding author), Douha F Bannan (0000-0001-5231-9636, King Abdulaziz University), Ghadah H Alshehri (0000-0001-7807-4470, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University), Manal Alshyhani (King Saud University), Walaa Almatri (King Saud University), Mansour Adam Mahmoud (0000-0002-2521-0464, Taibah University)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue3
Pages1567-1567
Publication date2022-01-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19031567
PMID35162588
OpenAlexW4213070991
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited22

This study aimed to determine the estimated proportion of contraindications among women taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and to assess the risk factors associated with their contraindications. This study was cross-sectional. Reproductive-aged women (18-49 years) on any COCs between 2018 and 2020 were recruited from one obstetrics-gynaecology clinic in a university-affiliated hospital and were included. Contraindications were defined using the World Health Organization (WHO) Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) for Contraceptive Use. Data were collected from electronic medical records for all included women, as well as a standardised, pretested, structured survey for one-third of the women. In this cross-sectional study, 380 women using COCs were included. Their mean age was 31.645 ± 7.366 years. Among them, 131 (34.5%) participated via a survey and electronic records, while the other 249 (65.5%) participated via electronic records only. The majority of the participants had a Bachelor's degree (59.0%) and were married (62.1%). The overall estimated proportion of patients with at least one contraindication to COCs according to category 3 (relative contraindications) or 4 (absolute contraindications) was 31.3% (95% CI 26.63-35.99). The most common contraindications observed were controlled hypertension, category 3 (12.1%); major surgery with prolonged immobilisation, category 4 (4.7%); migraine with aura at any age, category 4 (4.2%); breastfeeding from six weeks to less than six months postpartum, category 3 (4.0%); and diabetes mellitus with complications, category 4 (3.2%). Significant factors associated with contraindications to COCs were married women (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.38-3.46), those aged 35 years or more (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.49-3.66), and those with one or more live births (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.38-3.46). Ensuring proper assessment prior to prescribing and considering alternatives suitable for long-term use among women taking an oral contraceptive regularly is recommended

Alternative medicine · Contraindication · Cross-sectional study · Gynecology · Medical record · Obstetrics · Obstetrics and gynaecology · Pregnancy · Global Maternal and Child Health · Maternal and fetal healthcare · Medicine · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Surgery

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