Beyond Contraception: The Medical Necessity of Hormonal Contraceptives for Optimal Health and Well-being of Women in the UAE

Abstract

Introducing contraception as a method of treatment of many diseases is essential in order to optimize health and well-being of women in the UAE. The aim of the presented study was to analyze the non-contraceptive benefits and possible methods of using hormonal contraception in cultural context of the country. We reviewed articles concerning non-contraceptive use of contraception. Authors conducted their search in Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, National Library of Medicine, and Google Scholar. Hormonal contraceptives offer several health and wellness benefits that can improve the overall quality of life for women. These benefits encompass mood stabilization, reduction of premenstrual symptoms, acne relief, recurrent functional ovarian cysts, and luteal hemorrhagic cysts prevention, positive impact on bone mineral density, treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, menstrual cycle abnormalities dysmenorrhea, ovarian and endometrial cancer prevention. It can also be used as a symptomatic method of treatment of PCOS and endometriosis. Moreover, it can guarantee appropriate birth spacing and can be prescribed for women with certain medical conditions where pregnancy poses significant risks to their health. Expanding access to hormonal contraceptives for non-contraceptive medical purposes requires a multi-faceted approach, including policy changes, regulatory reforms, insurance coverage adjustments, and educational initiatives for healthcare providers and the general public