Low-estrogen oral contraceptives linked to pain during sex

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SAN DIEGO, May 7 (UPI) -- Low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives may increase a woman's risk for chronic pelvic pain symptoms and even pain during sexual climax, U.S. researchers say.

Researchers at New York University and Waitemata District Health Board in Auckland, New Zealand, conducted a study to compare chronic pelvic pain symptoms between young women who are current oral contraceptives users and non-users using data from an anonymous, Internet-based survey of women ages 18-39 within large university populations.

The researchers did not include women who were pregnant or had a history of endometriosis or pelvic pain and gathered demographic data as well as information on the type of oral contraceptives, duration of use, and indication for usage.

Of the 932 respondents who were eligible for the study, 605 were categorized as non-oral contraceptives users and 327 were categorized as oral contraceptives users, with 169 using low-dose and 171 using normal dose oral contraceptives.

The study found low-dose oral contraceptives users were more likely to report pelvic pain symptoms and more likely to have chronic pelvic pain symptoms than non-users.

The low-dose oral contraceptives users had almost twice the incidence of pain or discomfort during or after sexual climax compared to controls, and there was no difference between normal dose oral contraceptives users and controls. Normal dose oral contraceptives users were less likely to have pelvic pain symptoms than non-oral contraceptives users, the researchers said.

The findings are being presented at the 108th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association in San Diego.