Combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) as treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea

Wong CL, Farquhar C, Roberts H, Proctor M

Published Online:

October 7, 2009

Dysmenorrhoea is painful menstruation (woman's monthly bleeding) with the symptoms including cramping, headaches, nausea and vomiting. An excess of the hormone prostaglandin is a known cause. The synthetic hormones in combined oral contraceptive pills suppress ovulation, which could result in a reduction in dysmenorrhoea. The OCP reduces the amount of prostaglandin produced by glands in the lining of the uterus; which then reduces both uterine blood flow and cramps. The preparations of OCP with doses less than 35 mcg were effective and should be the preparation of choice.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Dysmenorrhoea (painful menstrual cramps) is common. Combined OCPs are recommended in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea.

Objectives:

To determine the effectiveness and safety of combined oral contraceptive pills for the management of primary dysmenorrhoea.

Search strategy:

We conducted electronic searches for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Register of controlled trials CENTRAL, CCTR, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL (first conducted in 2001, updated on 5 November 2008).

Selection criteria:

RCTs comparing all combined OCPs with other combined OCPs, placebo, no management, or management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) were considered.

Data collection and analysis:

Twenty three studies were identified and ten were included. Six compared the combined OCP with placebo and four compared different dosages of combined OCP.

Main results:

One study of low dose oestrogen and four studies of medium dose oestrogen combined OCPs compared with placebo, for a combined total of 497 women, reported pain improvement. For the outcome of pain relief across the different OCPs the pooled OR suggested benefit with OCPs compared to placebo (7 RCTs: Peto OR 2.01 [95% CI 1.32, 3.08]).The Chi-squared test for heterogeneity showed there is significant heterogeneity with an I2 statistic of 64% and a significant chi-square test (14.06, df=5, p=0.02). A sensitivity analysis removing the studies with inadequate allocation concealment suggested significant benefit of treatment with the pooled OR of 2.99 (95% CI 1.76, 5.07) and heterogeneity no longer statistically significant and I2 statistic of 0%.

Three studies reported adverse effects (Davis 2005; Hendrix 2002; GPRG 1968) The adverse effects were nausea, headaches and weight gain. Two studies reported if women experienced any side effect and no evidence of an effect was found (3 RCTs: OR = 1.45 (95% 0.71, 2.94). There was no evidence of statistical heterogeneity.

There were no studies identified that compared combined OCP versus non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

There was no evidence of a difference for the pooled studies for 3rd generation pro gestagens (OR = 1.11 (95% CI 0.79 - 1.57)). For the 2nd generation versus 3rd generation the OR was 0.44 (95% CI 0.23-0.84) suggesting benefit of the 3rd generation OCP but this was for a single study (Winkler 2003).

Authors' conclusions:

There is limited evidence for pain improvement with the use of the OCP (both low and medium dose oestrogen) in women with dysmenorrhoea. There is no evidence of a difference between different OCP preparations.

This record should be cited as:

Wong CL , Farquhar C, Roberts H, Proctor M. Oral contraceptive pill for primary dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD002120. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002120.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

February 18, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group

Health topics:

Gynaecology > Pelvic pain > Dysmenorrhea

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) as treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea

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