Unlike condoms or diaphragms, oral contraceptives (OC’s) provide no physical barrier to the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s). OC’s have, in fact, been linked by some to increasing STD rates by (1) causing abandonment of barrier methods and (2) leading to increased sexual activity. Clinicians caring for women using OC’s should have a heightened index of suspicion for lower genital tract infections, especially if symptoms or signs of cervicitis are present.
