A current appraisal of side effects of oral contraceptives.

Oral contraception, although offering almost 100 per cent protection against pregnancy, is associated with many side effects which have resulted in much unnecessary adverse publicity. Such side effects, the majority of which are of annoying nature only, are due to the synthetic hormones used, and have resulted in many changes in formulation and in the withdrawal of several preparations. The types of preparations available are discussed and the side effects appraised from both the patient's and the physician's viewpoint.