Combined oral contraceptive pills contain estrogen and progesterone to promote anovulation and prevent pregnancy, as well as to treat PCOS, menorrhagia, and endometriosis.

They should be avoided in patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, myocardial infarction, hypertension, migraine with aura, severe cirrhosis, and current breast cancer.

They are also contraindicated in patients 35 years or older who concomitantly smoke cigarettes!