摘要
复方口服避孕药（COCP）在20世纪60年代早期被引入，目前全世界已有超过6000万的妇女在使用。在英国，使用可逆性避孕方法的妇女中有25％选择口服避孕药。COCP由于其效力好、使用简便及其非避孕益处等特点而受到普遍欢迎（见MEDICINE 2006，34：23）。近年来，出现了新的复方激素避孕药给药方法。2004年避孕贴剂Evra在英国上市。复合避孕阴道环Nuvaring在欧洲和美国被广泛使用，2006年在英国将被批准上市。复合针剂Lunelle在英国还没有上市的计划。新的给药方法在作用机制和功效方面与COCP是相似的，但在长期的危险性方面几乎没有有效的数据，大体上和COCP没有显著的差异。
The combined oral contraceptive pill （COCP） was introduced in the early 1960s and is currently used by more than 60 million women worldwide. In the UK, 25% of women using a reversible method of contraception take an oral contraceptive pill. The COCP is popular because of its efficacy, ease of use and additional health benefits beyond those of contraception （see page 23）. In recent years, new delivery systems for combined hormonal contraception have become available. The contraceptive patch Evra was marketed in the UK in 2004. The combined contraceptive vaginal ring Nuuaring is available in much of Europe and in the USA, and may be licensed in the UK in 2006. There are no plans to market the combined injection Lunelle in the UK. The mechanism of action and efficacy of these relatively new delivery systems are similar to those of the COCP. Few data are available on the long-term risks, but it is sensible to assume that they too are no different from the COCP.
