Birth control pills (Oral contraceptives) should not be used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.

1. Oral Contraceptives in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Dr.Burak HACIHANEFİOĞLU
WOMEN'S HEALTH AND RESEARCH & POLYCYSTIC OVARY CENTER
Büyükdere Cad. Melek Ap. No:17 Kat:3
Şişli / İstanbul / Türkiye
Tel: 00 90 (212) 296 78 95 -00 90 (212) 296 78 96
Gsm : 00 90 530 561 89 96
www.polycysticovary.net
Birth control pills (Oral contraceptives) should not be used in the treatment
of polycystic ovary syndrome. Birth control pills, unfortunately, are frequently
used in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, although they do not treat
the underlying cause in polycystic ovary syndrome.
DISADVANTAGES and RISKS ;
Long term use without taking an occasional break from birth control pills is
not true in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Long term use
of birth control pills generally masks the actual problems such as polycystic
ovary syndrome and early menopause. For this reason, women who have
been using birth control pills for many years may have a risk to face irregular
periods and not becoming pregnant when they stop taking birth control
pills.
Birth control pills induced bleedings are not real periods. In a real
period of a woman; a small sac called follicle containing an egg grows and
then becomes a mature follicle in the ovary. Ovulation occurs when the
mature follicle ruptures and the egg is released out. But, follicle containing
an egg does not grow and ovulation does not occur while women are using
birth control pills as well as in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Obese and overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome using birth
control pills have an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis,
varicose veins, insulin resistance, gaining weight (water retention),
psychiatric disorders like depression, pancreatitis, gallstones, cholecystitis
and breast cancer.

2. Birth control pills particularly which are used for the treatment of polycystic
ovary syndrome may cause death in women who are overweight or obese and
have blood clotting disorders.
Hypothalamus and Hypophysis which are located in the brain send messages
to ovaries to control the menstrual periods. Hypothalamic-hypophysial-
ovarian axis usualy is not mature by 16 years of age. For this reason, use of
birth control pills under the age of 16 may block the maturation of
hypothalamic-hypophysial-ovarian axis.
There is a link between birth control pills use and breast cancer. The breast
cancer risk is highest in the women who started using birth control pills
as teenagers and who used birth control pills for longer years prior to first
full time pregnancy.