A wide range of side effects worsen many people’s experiences with oral contraceptives. These side effects are largely underresearched, leading to a lack of knowledge in the medical community about how to address them. This project not only encourages research into oral contraceptives and their side effects, but also serves as a blueprint for a study structure that could be replicated and further developed by future researchers. Through design and use of an online survey, data was collected on over 300 participants’ experiences with oral contraceptives. This data was used to compare brands of oral contraceptives according to what side effects survey participants reported experiencing while using them. A Side Effects Troubleshooting Tool (SETT) was also designed as part of the project using this data. This tool is provided as a resource for patients, a reference for healthcare providers, and a blueprint for future research and development. This project made a step toward addressing the side effects of oral contraceptives by listening to the experiences of people who have used oral contraceptives, conducting initial research into the problem, and encouraging further research to improve experiences with oral contraceptives for all.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Niebuhr, Yvonne M.

Subject

• Health
• Well-Being
• Innovation

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 17201
• E-project-040621-143803

Keyword

• the pill
• birth control
• oral contraceptive
• medical research
• side effects
• women's health

Award

• Provost's MQP Award

Advisor

• Brown, Crystal

Year

• 2021

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 3 - Good Health and Well-being
• 5 - Gender Equality
• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Date created

• 2021-04-06

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Society, Technology & Policy

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-01-19