There are certain conditions that preclude you from taking the combined OCP:
1.         Oestrogen-sensitive cancers such as uterine or breast cancer. The cause of unexplained vaginal bleeding should be diagnosed before beginning any OCP;
2.         Active liver disease or liver tumours;
3.         Severe or frequent migraine headaches;
4.         Some medical conditions such as porphyria or diabetes;
5.         Cardiovascular diseases such as blood clots, heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, very high cholesterol and triglycerides.
Contraception in the Future
No one has yet found the ideal hormonal contraceptive and although we are getting close, Australia lags behind in the availability of the newer types.
In particular, experts agree that it is best to use the smallest dose of synthetic hormones and also to use a progesterone that is "friendly" to our blood fats and cardiovascular system. These friendly progesterones are non-masculine (non-androgenic) and are also friendly to our skin as they are more feminine and help to control acne and facial hair. Examples of these friendly feminine progesterones are cyproterone acetate, desogestrel and gestodene.
In Europe and New Zealand, women have access to OCPs containing smaller doses (20 meg as opposed to 30 meg) of oestrogen combined with friendly progesterones such as desogestrel. Brand names of these pills are Mercilon, Marvelon and Diane and these are ideal OCPs for older women or indeed for the majority of women. It is frustrating that Australian women do not have access to these OCPs. Perhaps we need more influential women working in large pharmaceutical companies and the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee.