Diseases of the respiratory system; diseases of the digestive system.

The side effects of oral contraceptive (OC) use in regard to diseases of the respiratory system and diseases of the digestive system were examined in a prospective study. Results suggested a slight but insignificant increase in risk of acute respiratory inifections but a significant increase in risk of chronic conditions of the upper respiratory tract associated with OC use. On the basis of the results it could not be ascertained for certain whether these were the effects of OCs since the cases represented only a portion of the total number that occurred. No synergism between smoking and OCs on the risk of respiratory infections or conditions was observed. Several conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract from the lower esophagus to the rectum and anus appeared positively related to OC use. These included esophagitis gastritis and duodenitis appendicitis ulcerative colitis regional enteritis peritonitis pertoneal adhesions and functional disorders. Some of the differences between users and never users were statistically signficant. All OC effects were independent of smoking. With the possible exception of appendicitis these conditions were likely based on vague diagnostic criteria and might therefore be subject to the diagnostic bias of increased suspicion in OC users. The OC effects could also have been due to other confounding factors not considered. Smoking by itself appeared to be positively associated with diseases of the teeth and gingiva esophagitis peptic ulcer gastritis and duodenitis acute appendicitis and ventral hernia but not regional ileitis or ulcerative colitis and diseases of the anus and rectum.