Oral contraception and ear disease: findings in a large cohort study

A number of authors have suggested that oral contraceptives may increase th e risk of certain ear diseases, especially otosclerosis and vestibular diso rders, although the amount of published information on this topic is limite d. We have analyzed the available data on ear disease in the Oxford-Family Planning Association contraceptive study that includes 17,032 women followe d for periods of up to 26 years. No evidence of any adverse effect of oral contraceptives on ear disease was detected. A protective effect of oral con traceptives against wax in the ear has been described in the Royal College of General Practitioners oral contraception study. The amount of data avail able in the Oxford-Family Planning Association study was too small to permi t confirmation or refutation of this finding. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc . All rights reserved.