Oral contraceptive

Oral contraceptives are chemicals taken by mouth to inhibit normal fertility. All act on the hormonal system. Female oral contraceptives have been on the market since the early 1960s, and enjoy great popularity. They are used by millions of women around the world, though the acceptance varies by region: approximately one-third of sexually active women in the United Kingdom, but much less in countries such as Japan. Male oral contraceptives remain a subject of research and development, and are not widely available to the public.

References

• {{note|1}} Pearl R. Factors in human fertility and their statistical evaluation. Lancet 1933;2:607-611.
• {{note|2}} Data based on article: Audet MC, Moreau M, Koltun WD, Waldbaum AS, Shangold G, Fisher AC, Creasy GW. Evaluation of contraceptive efficacy and cycle control of a transdermal contraceptive patch vs an oral contraceptive: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001;285(18):2347-2354. (http://www.contraceptiononline.org/slides/slide01.cfm?q=pearl+index&dpg=6)
• {{note|3}} Alan Guttmacher Institute, Facts in Brief, First Year Contraceptive Failure Rates (http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/fb_contr_use.html). Retrieved May 10, 2005.
• {{note|4}} Reduction in ovarian & endometrial cancer study. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/316/11/650
• {{note|5}} Hormonal contraceptive use in Japan, 2004 news article. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/20/health/main637523.shtml)