The pill has positive side-effects over and above contraception. It can cure certain diseases and relieve symptoms. And it also reduces the risk of developing certain diseases in the first place.

Treatment of abnormal menstrual bleeding

Many women complain of menstrual abnormalities. These can be abnormalities of frequency (periods too frequent or infrequent) or of the amount or duration of flow (periods too light or too heavy, too short or too long). Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) are also common.

The combined pill can be used to treat abnormal menstrual bleeding. The regular hormone administration stabilizes the body's hormone balance. The cycles become regular. Periods are usually lighter and shorter. The risk of anemia is reduced.

Treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Many women find that the pill has a positive influence on premenstrual syndrome (PMS). In PMS characteristic symptoms such as pelvic pain, feelings of depression, headaches and irritability occur six to eight days before menstruation. A typical symptom is fluid retention which can lead to breast tenderness and edema. The combined oral contraceptive often relieves these symptoms. The pill containing the progestin drospirenone has proved particularly effective as it prevents the estrogen-induced fluid retention.

Positive effect of the combined oral contraceptive on the skin

The combined oral contraceptive generally has a positive influence on the appearance of the skin. Some preparations contain progestins with anti-androgenic action which can even be used specifically for the treatment of acne and seborrhea.

Less frequent occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease

In women taking the pill inflammation of the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and the uterus occurs less often. Pelvic inflammatory disease can have serious consequences. It can lead to sterility (inability to have children) or ectopic pregnancies. The protection given by the hormonal contraceptives results from the fact that they suppress the widening of the cervix that normally occurs around the time of ovulation and that the cervical mucus retains its thick, sticky consistency. This makes it more difficult for germs to enter the uterus.

Less frequent occurrence of cancer of the ovaries and the uterine lining

Ovarian cancer is today regarded as being closely connected with ovulation as the surface of the ovary is injured when the mature egg leaves the ovary. Suppression of ovulation by the pill is therefore believed to have protective action. Endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining) is also less common in women taking the pill. This protective action is probably due to the fact that the pill suppresses growth of the uterine lining.

Less frequent occurrence of benign breast tumors

Benign breast tumors occur less often in women taking the pill. The estrogen-progestin fluctuations in the natural menstrual cycle are a burden on the glandular tissue of the breasts. The even sex hormone levels in women taking the pill prevent the cyclic changes in the breast tissue.