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Review
. 1997 Dec;12(12):2595-8.
doi: 10.1093/humrep/12.12.2595.

Combined oral contraception and the risk of venous thromboembolism

A Mills  1
Affiliations
Review

Combined oral contraception and the risk of venous thromboembolism

A Mills. Hum Reprod. 1997 Dec.

Abstract

PIP: The "pill scare" of 1995 (triggered by the recommendation of the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines that users of third-generation formulations switch to second-generation pills) created a need for re-education of both the medical profession and the general public about the risks and benefits of combined oral contraceptives (OCs). The 1995 announcement led to widespread confusion and mistrust, as well as discontinuation of all OC use on the part of many of the 1.5 million UK users of third-generation pills. An estimated 10,000 more induced abortions and 30,000 more conceptions than expected from previous patterns occurred in the 9 months following the Committee's announcement. Ironically, the risk of nonfatal venous thromboembolism associated with pregnancy is twice that associated with the use of third-generation OCs. Ways must be found to keep women, physicians, and other health care professionals informed about the latest research findings and their clinical implications without creating a recurrence of the 1995 panic. Research data should be presented in terms of both the absolute and relative risks, and drug safety issues should be debated among the experts before premature pronouncements are issued through the mass media.

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