---
title: What health problems can birth control pills help with besides preventing pregnancy?
description: Many. Birth control pills can treat or prevent PMS, PMDD, painful periods, irregular bleeding, acne, cysts, endometriosis pain, fibroids, and reduce risk of s
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/non-contraceptive-benefits-of-oral-hormonal-contraceptives-2013/
---

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- What health problems can birth control pills help with besides preventing pregnancy?

Study, 2013

# What health problems can birth control pills help with besides preventing pregnancy?

Many. Birth control pills can treat or prevent PMS, PMDD, painful periods, irregular bleeding, acne, cysts, endometriosis pain, fibroids, and reduce risk of some cancers.

 Early or limited evidence

Women with various reproductive and general health conditions

## What they did

Reviews clinical evidence for how oral hormonal contraceptives treat or prevent various health conditions beyond contraception.

## What they found

Oral contraceptives with estrogen and progestin are effective for menstrual bleeding disorders, painful periods, PMS and PMDD, acne and excess hair growth, follicular cysts, endometriosis and fibroid pain. They prevent pelvic inflammatory disease and period-related migraines. They preserve bone density, improve asthma, and reduce risk of endometrial, ovarian, and colon cancers.

## What it means for you

Birth control pills treat or prevent many health conditions beyond pregnancy prevention and may be cost-effective for multiple issues. This is based on reviewing existing evidence rather than testing new treatments.

## About the study

Original title Non-contraceptive benefits of oral hormonal contraceptives Authors Schindler AE Journal International journal of endocrinology and metabolism Year 2013 Study design Study What was tested Oral hormonal contraceptives (estrogen and progestin combination) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.5812/ijem.4158](https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.4158) Original abstract

It is becoming evident that oral hormonal contraceptives-besides being well established contraceptives-seem to become important medications for many functional or organic disturbances. So far, clinical effectiveness has been shown for treatment as well as prevention of menstrual bleeding disorders and menstrual-related pain symptoms. Also this is true for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual disphoric disorder (PMDD). Particular oral contraceptives (OCs) containing anti-androgenic progestogens were shown to be effective medications for treatment of androgenisation symptoms (seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, alopecia). Through perfect suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis OCs have proven to be effective in elimination of persistent follicular cysts. Endometriosis/adenomyosis related pain symptoms are well handled similar to other drugs like Gonadotropine Releasing Hormone agonists but are less expensive, with less side effects, and possibility to be used for longer periods of time. This is also true for myoma. Pelvic inflammatory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual migraine, and onset of multiple sclerosis are prevented or delayed. Bone density is preserved and asthma symptoms improved. Endometrial hyperplasia and benign breast disease can be controlled. There is definitely a significant impact on risk reduction regarding endometrial, ovarian, and colon cancers. In conclusion, it needs to be recognized that oral combined hormonal contraceptives (estrogen/ progestogen combination) are - besides being reliable forms of contraception - are cost-effective medications for many medical disorders in women. Therefore, these contraceptives drugs are important for female and global health and should be used in clinical practice.

Reproduced under CC-BY.

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[Endometriosis](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-endometriosis/)[Migraine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-migraine/)

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