Bayer Schering Pharma symposium highlights COC benefits

Bayer Schering Pharma has highlighted conclusions from a recent symposium which support the safety and efficacy of combined oral contraceptives (COCs).

The company conducted a workshop of industry experts last year which has produced a newly-published consensus paper, stating that the overall benefits of the treatments far outweigh the potential risks.

According to the paper, which was published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health, modern COCs are well-tolerated treatments which bring a number of associated benefits, including reduction of menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhoea.

Although the report conceded that venous thromboembolism is a “potentially serious” complication of COC use, it stressed that this is only an issue in rare cases.

The report concluded: “Risk factor information is essential in deciding whether a combined oral contraceptive is a suitable contraceptive choice.”

This comes after Bayer published research last month into the issues relating to self-monitoring of blood glucose among diabetics, suggesting that many patients are allowing self-consciousness or a lack of education to interfere with their regimes.