Re: Oestrogen-containing contraceptive pills increase vitamin D levels, study finds
Dear Editor
I was amused to note that the print version of the article on oestrogen-containing contraceptives (BMJ 10.1136/bmj.i4345) was illustrated with a picture of Cerazette (R), a progesterone-only pill. More seriously, this common confusion can lead to unintended pregnancy, if women who are used to taking oestrogen-containing contraceptive pills in a 21/7 pattern (i.e. taking pills for 21 days then stopping for seven), then take a progesterone-only pill in the same pattern. Progesterone-only pills should be taken on a continuous daily basis (28/28), with no seven day break. Any clinician changing a women from an oestrogen-containing to a progesterone-only contraceptive pill should take time to make this clear.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
18 August 2016
Susan H Walker
Senior Lecturer in sexual health/ Senior Research Fellow
Rapid Response:
Re: Oestrogen-containing contraceptive pills increase vitamin D levels, study finds
Dear Editor
I was amused to note that the print version of the article on oestrogen-containing contraceptives (BMJ 10.1136/bmj.i4345) was illustrated with a picture of Cerazette (R), a progesterone-only pill. More seriously, this common confusion can lead to unintended pregnancy, if women who are used to taking oestrogen-containing contraceptive pills in a 21/7 pattern (i.e. taking pills for 21 days then stopping for seven), then take a progesterone-only pill in the same pattern. Progesterone-only pills should be taken on a continuous daily basis (28/28), with no seven day break. Any clinician changing a women from an oestrogen-containing to a progesterone-only contraceptive pill should take time to make this clear.
Competing interests: No competing interests