Management of vaginal bleeding irregularities induced by progestin-only contraceptives.

As the use of progestin-only methods of contraception continues to increase worldwide, the problem of the vaginal bleeding disturbances these methods induce is becoming of increasing public health relevance. A number of approaches are used by clinicians to control these bleeding irregularities but few treatments have been adequately tested and, to date, none appears sufficiently effective. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying vaginal bleeding as well as of the attitudes of women towards menstrual disturbances is needed, so that effective and acceptable therapies can be devised.