Abstract

GARZA FLORES, Josué  and  SIERRA-RAMIREZ, José Alfredo. Low-dose oral contraceptives and coronary heart disease. Perinatol. Reprod. Hum. [online]. 2006, vol.20, n.4, pp.98-111. ISSN 2524-1710.

Currently, more than 120 millions of women around the world use some method of oral hormonal contraceptive. Although the decrease in the oral contraceptive dosage, especially in total estrogen content, allowed oral contraceptives as a popular method for fertility regulation in women. Users, most of them healthy with a low incidence of chronic diseases, request information on safety of oral contraceptives regarding cardiovascular risks associated with their long-time use. In this review, we analyzed current available scientific epidemiological data on cardiovascular diseases, associated with the use of oral hormonal contraceptives, especially on its association with risk of; acute myocardial infarction, ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases and venous thromboembolism. It' is advisable that before prescribing oral hormonal contraceptives to women of reproductive age, a deep individual analysis of the risk factors associated with its use should be considered.

Keywords : Oral hormonal contrraceptive; oral contraceptive dosage; estrogens; contraceptive method.

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