Trends in oral contraceptive use in a Southern German population: Results of the MONICA project Augsburg: surveys 1984/85 and 1989/90

In the surveys of the MONICA project Augsburg, conducted in1984/85 (S1) and 1989/90 (S2), data on oral contraceptive (OC)use were gathered in two independent representative population-basedsamples of women aged 25–44 years (medication historyover the previous seven days). OCs were categorized accordingto their oestrogen content (< 50mg, 50mg) and according totheir progestogen component. The prevalence of OC use was unchangedbetween the two points in time (23.4% in S1 and 23.7% in S2).OCs with low oestrogen content were used in 49.0% of the OCusers in S1 and in 76.6% in S2. The use of the progestogen componentchanged also: norethindrone (acetate), levonorgestrel, and lynestrenolwere used less, desogestrel more often in S2. Gestoden and norgestimatewere used by 15% of the OC users in S2. In conclusion, we cansay that there was no change in the prevalence of OC use inthe study population; however, a change in hormone content towardspreparations with lower hormone content was observed.