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Otto AK, Klein DA, Lau M, Dhar CP, Hwang LY. Over-the-counter access to hormonal contraception: a global perspective. Curr Opin Pediatr 2024; 36:382-388. [PMID: 38655795 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Oral contraceptive pills are among the most popular contraceptives worldwide, including among adolescents, and are available over the counter in over 100 countries. However, when a prescription is required, oral contraceptives may be difficult to obtain, particularly for adolescents. Recent approvals of over-the-counter progestin-only pills in the United Kingdom and United States have brought widespread attention to this topic. RECENT FINDINGS Progestin-only pills, including the norgestrel pill recently approved for over-the-counter use in the United States, are highly effective and may be used safely without a prescription or medical monitoring, including by adolescents. These pills are associated with relatively high user satisfaction. Although over-the-counter availability may improve contraceptive access overall, issues related to insurance coverage and out-of-pocket cost may continue to pose practical barriers to access for many individuals. SUMMARY Over-the-counter oral contraceptives are an appropriate and important contraceptive option for many adolescents. Over-the-counter availability has the potential to increase access to safe and effective contraception in the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries where a prescription is currently required. Future research on use patterns among adolescents is needed, as are advocacy efforts and policies to ensure access and affordability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana K Otto
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan
| | - David A Klein
- Departments of Family Medicine and Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland
- Department of Family Medicine, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California
| | - May Lau
- Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Children's Medical Center Dallas
| | - Cherie P Dhar
- The Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
| | - Loris Y Hwang
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent & Young Adult Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Allen RH, Bartz D. Opill: The Over-the-Counter Contraceptive Pill. Obstet Gynecol 2024; 143:184-188. [PMID: 37944139 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first oral contraceptive pill (OCP) for over-the-counter status. This progestin-only pill contains norgestrel 0.075 mg taken daily, with a Pearl Index estimated at 4.4 (95% CI, 1.9-8.8). This formulation has an excellent safety profile, with current breast cancer as the only absolute contraindication and few relative contraindications. Ultimately, this approval has great potential to improve the accessibility of effective contraception for many pregnancy-capable Americans, especially those who have poor access to the health care system for prescription-required contraception, most notably people who hold marginalized identities. The pill's overall success in reducing rates of unintended pregnancy will rely on its availability, particularly in rural communities that may rely on one pharmacy, and affordability, especially for uninsured or underinsured individuals. However, given the need for improved contraceptive provision, particularly in abortion-restrictive settings, the over-the-counter approval of this daily OCP is a major advancement in the nation's contraceptive ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H Allen
- Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Cordova-Gomez A, Wong AP, Sims LB, Doncel GF, Dorflinger LJ. Potential biomarkers to predict return to fertility after discontinuation of female contraceptives-looking to the future. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1210083. [PMID: 37674657 PMCID: PMC10477712 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1210083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Nowadays there are multiple types of contraceptive methods, from reversible to permanent, for those choosing to delay pregnancy. Misconceptions about contraception and infertility are a key factor for discontinuation or the uptake of family planning methods. Regaining fertility (the ability to conceive) after contraceptive discontinuation is therefore pivotal. Technical studies to date have evaluated return to fertility by assessing pregnancy as an outcome, with variable results, or return to ovulation as a surrogate measure by assessing hormone levels (such as progesterone, LH, FSH) with or without transvaginal ultrasound. In general, relying on time to pregnancy as an indicator of return to fertility following contraceptive method discontinuation can be problematic due to variable factors independent of contraceptive effects on fertility, hormone clearance, and fertility recovery. Since the ability to conceive after contraceptive method discontinuation is a critical factor influencing product uptake, it is important to have robust biomarkers that easily and accurately predict the timing of fertility return following contraception and isolate that recovery from extrinsic and circumstantial factors. The main aim of this review is to summarize the current approaches, existing knowledge, and gaps in methods of evaluating return-to-fertility as well as to provide insights into the potential of new biomarkers to more accurately predict fertility restoration after contraceptive discontinuation. Biomarker candidates proposed in this document include those associated with folliculogenesis, cumulus cell expansion, follicular rupture and ovulation, and endometrial transport and receptivity which have been selected and scored on predefined criteria meant to evaluate their probable viability for advancement. The review also describes limitations, regulatory requirements, and a potential path to clinically testing these selected biomarkers. It is important to understand fertility restoration after contraceptive method discontinuation to provide users and health providers with accurate evidence-based information. Predictive biomarkers, if easy and low-cost, have the potential to enable robust evaluation of RTF, and provide potential users the information they desire when selecting a contraceptive method. This could lead to expanded uptake and continuation of modern contraception and inform the development of new contraceptive methods to widen user's family planning choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cordova-Gomez
- Office of Population and Reproductive Health, USAID/Public Health Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Andrew P. Wong
- CONRAD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Lee B. Sims
- Office of Population and Reproductive Health, USAID/Public Health Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Gustavo F. Doncel
- CONRAD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Laneta J. Dorflinger
- Department of Product Development and Introduction, FHI 360, Durham, NC, United States
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Segarra I, Menárguez M, Roqué MV. Women's health, hormonal balance, and personal autonomy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1167504. [PMID: 37457571 PMCID: PMC10347535 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1167504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hormone-based contraception disrupts hormonal balance, creating artificial states of anovulation and threatening women's health. We reviewed its main adverse effects and mechanisms on accelerated ovarian aging, mental health (emotional disruptions, depression, and suicide), sexuality (reduced libido), cardiovascular (brain stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and thrombosis), and oncological (breast, cervical, and endometrial cancers). Other "collateral damage" includes negative effects on communication, scientific mistrust, poor physician-patient relationships, increased patient burden, economic drain on the healthcare system, and environmental pollution. Hormone-sensitive tumors present a dilemma owing to their potential dual effects: preventing some cancers vs. higher risk for others remains controversial, with denial or dismissal as non-relevant adverse effects, information avoidance, and modification of scientific criteria. This lack of clinical assessment poses challenges to women's health and their right to autonomy. Overcoming these challenges requires an anthropological integration of sexuality, as the focus on genital bodily union alone fails to encompass the intimate relational expression of individuals, complete sexual satisfaction, and the intertwined feelings of trust, safety, tenderness, and endorsement of women's femininity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Segarra
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
- “Pharmacokinetics, Patient Care and Translational Bioethics” Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
| | - Micaela Menárguez
- Bioethics Chair, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
| | - María Victoria Roqué
- “Pharmacokinetics, Patient Care and Translational Bioethics” Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
- Bioethics Chair, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
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Wollum A, Zuniga C, Blanchard K, Teal S. A commentary on progestin-only pills and the "three-hour window" guidelines: Timing of ingestion and mechanisms of action. Contraception 2023; 122:109978. [PMID: 36801392 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.109978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Clinical guidelines for progestin-only pills (POPs) state that each pill should be taken at the same time each day, with only a "three-hour window" of tolerance before back-up contraception should be used. In this commentary, we summarize studies examining the timing of ingestion and mechanisms of action for various POP formulations and dosages. We found that different progestins have different properties that determine the effect of delayed or missed pills on effectiveness at preventing pregnancy. Our findings highlight that there is more margin for error for some POPs than guidelines suggest. The three-hour window recommendation should be re-evaluated in light of these findings. Since clinicians, potential POP users, and regulatory bodies rely on current guidelines to make decisions about POP use, a critical evaluation and update of these guidelines are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stephanie Teal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Glasier A, Edelman A, Creinin MD, Brache V, Westhoff CL, Han L, Chen MJ, Hemon A. The effect of deliberate non-adherence to a norgestrel progestin-only pill: A randomized, crossover study. Contraception 2023; 117:1-6. [PMID: 36130667 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the effects on cervical mucus, ovarian activity and theoretical contraceptive protection of a 6-hour delay and of missing one norgestrel 0.075 mg progestogen-only pill. STUDY DESIGN In a prospective, two-site, randomized, crossover study, healthy women aged 18 to 35 with BMI <32.0 kg/m² and regular ovulatory cycles completed a baseline 28-day cycle with correct daily pill use followed by two intervention cycles in which, around mid-cycle, one pill was taken 6 hours late or missed completely. We undertook ovarian ultrasonography, estradiol and progesterone measurement, and cervical mucus assessments every 3 to 4 days (daily around the time of the incorrect use) and based the theoretical contraceptive protection score on ovarian activity status, cervical mucus and their temporal relationship. RESULTS Of 91 potential participants screened, 52 started the study and 46 provided complete data for each intervention cycle. Fourteen participants (30%) ovulated in each of the two intervention cycles, with four during the delayed pill cycle and two during the missed pill cycle having an abnormal luteal phase. Seven participants in the delayed pill cycle, and six with a missed pill had elevated cervical mucus scores temporally associated with the intervention. However only two women, one in the delayed pill cycle and one in the missed pill cycle, had cervical mucus scores in the range considered favorable for fertility. CONCLUSIONS Delayed or missed intake of a single norgestrel 0.075 mg progestogen-only pill appears to have little effect on theoretical contraceptive efficacy. IMPLICATIONS This biomedical study suggests that taking a norgestrel 0.075mg progestogen-only pill 6 hours late or missing one pill have little effect on ovarian activity or cervical mucus and may not jeopardize contraceptive efficacy. Correlation with typical use outcomes is necessary to confirm pregnancy risk with delayed or missed norgestrel intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Glasier
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Alison Edelman
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Mitchell D Creinin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | | | - Carolyn L Westhoff
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Leo Han
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Melissa J Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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