Beyond "Users" and "Non-Users": Insights from a Murine Model of Oral Contraceptive Formulations

Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) are a commonly prescribed medication in the United States and worldwide for female individuals in the athletic and general populations. Research often compares female participants as oral contraceptive pill “users” or “non-users.” However, there are distinct types of oral contraceptives with differences in synthetic hormones and doses. The heterogeneity in hormone type and dosage composition represents a critical variable when investigating the impact of oral contraceptive pills on musculoskeletal health and athletic performance. Many athletes are opting to use OCPs to manipulate their menstrual cycles in coordination with training and competition schedules. Just as it is important to understand how different OCPs affect menstrual patterns to guide individualized prescribing, so too should we strive to understand their musculoskeletal effects. Improved knowledge in this area will allow clinicians to optimize OCP prescription to further support musculoskeletal health and performance.