In total, 79.2% of Brazilian obstetricians and gynecologists reported that 20%-40% of their patients consulted them for menstrual-related complaints and 26%-34% of the gynecologists reported that 21%-40% of their patients consulted them for reduction in the intensity, frequency, and/or duration of menstrual
bleeding. Overall, 93% stated that medically induced
amenorrhea represents no risk to women's health and 82.5% said that they prescribed
contraceptives to control menstruation or induce
amenorrhea. The
contraceptives most commonly prescribed were extended-cycle 24/4 or 26/2 COC regimens and the
levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. Poisson regression analysis showed that Brazilian obstetricians and gynecologists prescribing
contraceptives to control menstruation or induce
amenorrhea consider extended-use or continuous-use COC regimens to be effective for both indications (prevalence ratio 1.23 [95% confidence interval 1.09-1.40] and prevalence ratio 1.28 [95% confidence interval 1.13-1.46], respectively). They also prescribed COCs with an interval of 24/4 or 26/2 to control
bleeding patterns (prevalence ratio 1.10 [95% confidence interval 1.01-1.21]).
CONCLUSION: