Pediatr Pulmonol. 2025 Feb;60(2):e27506. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27506.

Systematic review

Studies about contraceptive use in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients

Contraception: contraceptive methods

Disease severity or risk for other adverse health outcomes, including thrombosis and poor bone health. Contraceptive effectiveness.

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Three observational studies of fair to poor quality suggest that use of oral contraceptives (OCs) does not negatively impact CF disease severity, defined as changes in pulmonary function, number of exacerbations or need for intravenous antibiotics. Three small studies of poor quality reported on contraceptive failure among women with CF using combined hormonal contraceptives (combined OCs, patch or ring). One pregnancy was reported in a patch user out of 43 hormonal contraceptive users across all studies. One pharmacokinetic study reported that women with CF achieve steroid hormone plasma concentrations similar to healthy women after ingestion of combined OCs.

Limited evidence suggests that hormonal contraceptive use does not negatively impact disease severity among women with CF and that hormonal contraceptive effectiveness is not impaired by CF. Studies were limited by small sample sizes and short duration of follow-up. No studies examined the effect of hormonal contraception on thrombosis or bone health among women with CF.