[Use of oral contraceptives in East Germany by middle-aged females].

This study was based on the data from 1214 women included in the controlled group within a hospital-based case-control study on the association between breast cancer and the use of oral contraceptives. This is a sample of middle-aged women. Women with a reason for referral, presumably associated with infertility, were excluded. Oral contraceptives are (apart from coitus interruptus) in 76% of the cases the method of contraception most frequently used, followed by the rhythm method and condoms. The use depends strongly on the age. Only 40% of the women, now 55-60 years of age, ever used oral contraceptives, whereas 91% of those now under 40 have been using them. Other connections can be seen with level of education, marital status, and reproduction and sex life. With the use of special preparations, there are differences between women of younger and older generations, partially based on the different times these preparations were introduced to the market. The exclusive use of sequential oral contraceptives decreases in the older cases.