Effect of 1995 pill scare on rates of venous thromboembolism among women taking combined oral contraceptives: analysis of General Practice Research Database
The newer types of combined oral contraceptive pills do not put women at increased risk of clots in the veins, contrary to previous information, a study in the BMJ shows this week.
Since 1995 it has been believed that third generation pills, which contain gestodene or desogestrel, can cause a twofold increase in risk of venous clotting compared to older combined formulations.
The study compared the incidence of venous clots in women in the three years before and after the 1995 'pill scare' when use of 'third generation' oral contraceptives fell from 54% to 14% in women aged 15-49 taking the pill. Data was taken from 304 general practices throughout the country that fed information to a central database. Women who were at risk of clots for other reasons were not included in the figures.
The results show that although the use of third generation oral contraceptives fell during the period after 1995, the rates of venous clots among women taking the pill did not change significantly.
Contact:
Professor R D T Farmer, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7DJ Email: r.farmer@surrey.ac.uk