Patient acceptance of oral contraceptives. II. The private patient

Oral contraceptives were employed in a private practice for a total of 2,594 cycles over a 9 1 2year interval. Only 40 of 126 patients discontinued medication for various reasons during the course of study. Population characteristics were compared with those of an indigent group previously studied for factors considered relevant to acceptability. Liver function studies performed serially in those patients sampled at random revealed no significant alterations of hepatic function. One patient was studied with endocrinologic assays for assessment of ovulatory parameters through her last two medicated cycles and during her first cycle after stopping medication. The safety of any new drug is confirmed through long-term usage. The reported experiences further support the safety of these progestogen-estrogen combinations. Oral contraceptives were readily acceptable and provided an effective method of family planning in a private patient practice.