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Study Shows Women with Lupus Can Safely Take Oral Contraceptives
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Brief Description:
A major study funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and
Skin Diseases shows that women with lupus are able to take oral contraceptives without
an increased risk of flare-ups.
Transcript:
Thornton: For years, doctors have been reluctant to prescribe oral
contraceptives to women suffering from lupus, fearing that the contraceptives may cause
an increase in disease activity. But now, a major study funded by the National Institute
of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases shows that women with lupus are
able to take oral contraceptives without an increased risk of flare-ups. Dr. Jill Buyon
of the New York Hospital for Joint Diseases and co-author of the study talks about
the findings.
Buyon: When we did this study, which really is quite important to
the health of women since oral contraceptives are to date the most effective form of
birth control, we found that in women whose disease was relatively inactive, at least
at the time we administered the birth control pills since they weren't at risk for
blood clotting, did quite well. There were no differences in the number of women who
had either severe flares or mild, moderate flares.
Thornton: Lupus is a disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly
attacks and damages healthy tissues of the skin, joints and internal organs. The symptoms
include inflammation of the skin, joints and the mucous membranes lining the nose and
mouth. For more information visit www.niams.nih.gov.
From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Matt Thornton in Bethesda, Maryland.
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| Date: 01/06/2006 |
Reporter:
Matt Thornton |
Sound Bite:
Dr. Jill Buyon |
Topic:
Lupus, Birth Control |
| Institute(s): NIAMS |
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