Oral contraception in Denmark 1998-2010

Background: Oral contraceptives (OC) are the most popular contraception in Denmark. Overall figures on use are well described, but more detailed use patterns according to type and age need to be updated.

Objectives: To assess trends in the use of OC including progestogen-only pills among Danish women in 1998-2010 and to describe in detail use patterns in 2010. Design. Annual cross-sectional prescription statistics.

Setting: Denmark.

Population: Danish women 10-49 years old.

Material and methods: Analysis of prescription data from the National Registry of Medicinal Products Statistics from 1 January 1998 through 31 December 2010.

Results: Combined OC (COC) with 50 μg estrogen decreased their market share from 3% in 1998 to zero in 2010, and COC with 30-40 μg estrogen decreased to 50% in 2010, in contrast, COC with 20 μg estrogen increased to 46% in 2010. Progestogen-only pills accounted for 4%. COC with levonorgestrel decreased, while the use of pills with desogestrel and gestodene among two-thirds of current users was constant.

Conclusion: Low-dose COCs gradually replaced middle-dose pills. Pills with newer progestogens are used primarily by young women, and 85% of users in 2010 were on products with desogestrel, gestodene, drospirenone or cyproteroneacetate. We still need low-dose pills with 1(st) and 2(nd) generation progestogens on the Scandinavian market.