Women of childbearing age who have taken combined pills may be at increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome and its subtypes.
- Combined oral contraceptives contain both a progestin and an estrogen.
- These pills are associated with a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome.
- Further research needs to be conducted to elucidate the role of estrogen and progesterone in the development and progression of this disorder.
Currently, two types of oral contraception are available: progestin-only pills, which consist of only one hormone (desogestrel or levonorgestrel) in very small quantities, and combined oral contraceptives, which contain both a progestin and an estrogen.
Compare the risks of taking combined pills and inserting a copper IUD
Worldwide, combination pills are widely prescribed for contraception and its non-contraceptive benefits. “Estrogen receptors have been shown to modulate the progression of irritable bowel syndrome. It is not known whether combined oral contraceptives may contribute to the development of this disorder of bowel function,” indicated researchers from the University of Louisville (United States). This is why they decided to make a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, held October 20-25 in Vancouver, Canada.
As part of this work, scientists recruited 54,645 patients, aged 15 to 45, who were prescribed combined oral contraceptives before 2018 and 54,645 adults called “controls” who had an intra-device inserted. copper uterus before 2018. When analyzing it, they took into account baseline characteristics, including age, ethnicities, BMI, diabetes, smoking, alcohol, cannabis use, viral infections, lupus, psychiatric disorders, systemic sclerosis, opioid prescriptions and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. “We compared the five-year incidence of irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation, functional bowel disease with predominant diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome with mixed bowel habits,” the team said.
Irritable bowel syndrome: more risks in women taking combined oral contraceptives
According to the study, over a five-year period, patients who took combined pills were at higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome and its subtypes. The researchers believe that additional research needs to be done to confirm the findings and elucidate the role of estrogen and progesterone in the development and progression of irritable bowel syndrome.
