More Factors to Consider in Selecting Contraceptive Methods

The beneficial and adverse effects of hormonal contraception have been reported widely, but in virtually no studies have researchers systematically compared various hormonal methods (including a control group using nonhormonal contraception) and measured symptoms at baseline. Investigators allowed more than 600 women to choose injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), oral contraceptives (OCs; 0.15 mg desogestrel and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol taken for 21 days, followed by 2 days of placebo and 5 days of 10 μg ethinyl estradiol), or nonhormonal contraception (NH). Participants were followed for 2 years, and associated symptoms were recorded at 6-month intervals.

Compared with the NH group, women who used DMPA had less bloating, cram…