There are limited data to show the prescribing of COCs and other hormonal products containing estrogen/progestogen combinations outside the product license. Researchers did this study to determine the diagnosis/indication recorded at the time of prescription of CPA/EE and two COCs, LNG/EE, and DRSP/EE. The present study was a retrospective study using a primary care database.
The analysis determined the widespread use of each product and the proportion of new users each year. Among new users, researchers analyzed database codes to infer the reason for prescription.
Most new users prescribed CPA/EE had a record of acne or hirsutism; the proportion of new users with a record only for contraception decreased from 32.9% in 2002 to 8.6% in 2010. Among new users prescribed DRSP/EE or LNG/EE in 2010, 43.2% and 30.8% of women, respectively, did not have a record indicating use for contraception.
The study concluded that adherence to prescribing guidelines for CPA/EE has improved over time. A substantial proportion of women using DRSP/EE or LNG/EE had records for hormone-responsive conditions only, suggesting that doctors prescribed many women these therapies for non-contraceptive use.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/42/4/247
