Back to Journals » International Journal of Women's Health » Volume 5

Offering extended use of the combined contraceptive pill: a survey of specialist family planning services

Authors Sauer U, Mann S, Brima N, Stephenson J

Received 10 July 2013

Accepted for publication 17 August 2013

Published 30 September 2013 Volume 2013:5 Pages 613—617

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S51329

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 3



Ulrike Sauer,1 Sue Mann,2 Nataliya Brima,3 Judith Stephenson2

1Reproductive and Sexual Health, Enfield Community Service, Enfield, 2Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Group, Institute for Women’s Health, 3Research Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, UK

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes to, and provision of, extended regimens for taking the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) by specialist contraception practitioners from three contrasting specialist contraception services in London.
Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was administered to all doctors and nurses, who counsel, provide, or prescribe the oral contraceptive pill at each clinic.
Results: A total of 105 clinicians received the questionnaire and 67 (64%) responded. Only one of three clinics initiated and maintained guidelines for extended COC use. In that service, 60% of staff prescribing COC advised more than 50% of patients regarding alternative COC regimens. In the other two services, this was discussed with 20% and 6% of patients, respectively (P < 0.001). The reasons for prescribing extended use included cyclic headaches, menorrhagia, patient request, menstrual-related cramps, and endometriosis, and did not differ between the three different settings. The most common extended regimens were 63 pills or continuous use until bleeding occurs, followed by a hormone-free interval. Concerns highlighted by providers and patients were “unhealthy not to have a monthly bleed”, “future fertility”, and “breakthrough bleeding”. Such comments highlight the need for further information for providers and patients.
Conclusion: There is growing evidence, backed by national guidance, about extended COC use, but routine provision of this information is patchy and varies ten-fold, even within specialist family planning services. Targeted training, use of service guidelines, and implementation research will be needed to extend patient choice of different COC regimens and change clinical practice.

Keywords: contraception, hormone-free interval, continuous combined contraception, extended pill use, counseling

Creative Commons License © 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.