Asthma Attacks Increase for Some Women Taking Progestogen-Only Pill
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, May 8, 2025 -- Use of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) is not associated with asthma in women of reproductive age, but use of a progestogen-only pill (POP) is associated with an increased risk for asthma attacks for some subgroups of women, according to a study published online May 7 in ERJ Open Research.
Bohee Lee, Ph.D., from Imperial College London, and colleagues examined the association between oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and asthma attacks for women with asthma aged 18 to 50 years using the U.K. Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to hospital admission and mortality data for 2004 to 2020. Women with asthma were observed, with OCP never-users compared to new-users: OCP users were classified into a COC cohort (132,676 participants) and POP cohort (129,151 participants).
The researchers observed no association between COC or POP and asthma attacks. After accounting for asthma severity/control, demographics, and comorbidities, the POP association was modified by asthma phenotype and corticosteroid use, but not body mass index. In POP users, an elevated risk for asthma attacks was seen for women who were younger than 35 years, those with eosinophilia, and those with lower corticosteroid use (weighted hazard ratios [95 percent confidence intervals], 1.39 [1.12 to 1.72], 1.24 [0.97 to 1.58], and 1.20 [1.03 to 1.40], respectively).
“Asthma is common in women of reproductive age, many of whom are taking the pill," coauthor Chloe Bloom, M.D., from the Imperial College London, said in a press release. "This study helps women and health care professionals make more informed decisions about which contraceptive pill might be best for them. The findings also add another piece to the puzzle of why women may be more likely to have severe asthma than men."
One author disclosed ties to AstraZeneca and GSK.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
Racialized Economic Segregation Linked to Advanced Cancer Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2025 -- People living in racially and economically segregated neighborhoods are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage breast and cervical cancer...
New Subtype of Diabetes Identified in Sub-Saharan Africans, Black Americans
FRIDAY, Aug. 1, 2025 -- A new diabetes subtype has been identified in Sub-Saharan Africans and Black Americans, according to a study published online July 21 in The Lancet...
Changes in Missouri Law Linked to Increased Breast Cancer Screening Rates
THURSDAY, July 31, 2025 -- Changes in Missouri law expanding breast cancer screening coverage have led to increased screening rates among Medicaid patients and an increased...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.