Hormonal Contraceptives and Allergies: Is There a Link?

TOPLINE:

Among women, the use of systemic hormonal contraceptives is independently associated with an increased likelihood of having allergic rhinitis, a study showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers analyzed data from 46,205 women in the United States (average age, 30.9 years) to examine associations between the use of systemic hormonal contraceptives and the risk for rhinitis, which encompasses nasal symptoms like sneezing, congestion, itching, or rhinorrhea.
• Overall, 4606 participants had a diagnosis of rhinitis, of whom 92.4% had allergic rhinitis and 7.6% had nonallergic rhinitis.
• Contraceptives were classified as progestin-only or estrogen-containing.

TAKEAWAY:

• Participants using systemic hormonal contraceptives had 32% higher odds of having allergic rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.20-1.44) than those not using systemic hormonal contraceptives, the researchers reported.
• Progestin-only contraceptives (aOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12-1.48) and estrogen-containing contraceptives (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.21-1.51) were associated with an increased risk for allergic rhinitis.
• No significant associations were observed for nonallergic rhinitis.

IN PRACTICE:

“Clinicians may have a higher vigilance for rhinitis symptoms in adult women taking systemic hormonal contraceptives,” the study authors wrote.

SOURCE:

Richard G. Chiu, with the University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, was the corresponding author of the study, which was published online on March 21 in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.

LIMITATIONS:

The duration of exposure to hormonal contraceptives was not always clear from medication records. The study had a cross-sectional design and did not establish a causal relationship between hormonal contraceptive use and rhinitis. 

DISCLOSURES:

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health. The authors reported having no conflicts of interest. 

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.