Association between the duration of oral contraceptive use and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2021

Objectives: Previous studies have explored the link between oral contraceptive (OC) use and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but few have specifically focused on the duration of OCs or used recent data. We investigated the association between OC use, its duration, and T2DM. Methods: Data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNAHANES) from 2007 to 2021 were analyzed, focusing on 52,434 subjects over 20 years old. Multiple logistic regression determined the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for T2DM risk based on OC use duration. Results: Participants using OCs had a 1.33 times higher risk of developing T2DM than non-users (p=.006). Those who used OCs for more than a year but less than two years, and for two years or more, had a significantly higher risk of developing T2DM compared to those using them for less than three months (OR=1.477, 95% CI=1.000–2.179, p=.050; OR=1.468, 95% CI=1.023–2.107, p=.037, respectively). The increased risk among long-term users remained consistent. Conclusion: Women with long-term use of oral contraceptives (OCs) have a higher prevalence of T2DM. This study contributes to public health by emphasizing the importance of monitoring metabolic health in women who use OCs and provides foundational data for developing policies that promote women&quots health through a better understanding of OC-related risks.