Venous thromboembolism rates have not fallen since "pill scare"

The Committee on Safety of Medicine's advice in 1995 that "third generation" oral contraceptives containing desogestrel and gestodene double the risk of venous thromboembolism compared with alternative formulations remains controversial. Farmer et al (p 477) examined use of third generation oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolism using the general practice research database. Use of third generation oral contraceptives fell from 54% before the October 1995 "pill scare" to 14% during November 1995 to December 1998. Despite this change in use, the rate of venous thromboembolism remained unchanged at about 36 per 100 000 woman years of exposure to combined oral contraceptives. The findings do not support an increased risk of venous thromboembolism with third generation oral contraceptives.

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Relevant Article

Effect of 1995 pill scare on rates of venous thromboembolism among women taking combined oral contraceptives: analysis of General Practice Research Database

R D T Farmer, T J Williams, E L Simpson, and A L Nightingale
BMJ 2000 321: 477-479. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]