BMJ 1995;311:1112 (28 October)

Editorials

Third generation oral contraceptive pills

Is the scare over the increased risk of thrombosis justified?

Britain's Committee on Safety of Medicines has issued a recommendation that combined oral contraceptives containing the so called third generation progestogens, desogestrel and gestodene, should no longer be routinely prescribed. The committee came to this conclusion after examining the data from three unpublished studies, two of which have not been completed. These studies--an international study organised by the World Health Organisation; the European transnational study of oral contraceptives, which is funded by the pharmaceutical company Schering AG; and a study of data from the United Kingdom general practice research database (formerly known as VAMP)--were designed to examine whether the risk of vascular disease in women taking the newer oral contraceptive pills differed from that in women taking the slightly older pills containing predominantly the progestogen levonorgestrel. Analysis of data from the completed WHO study and interim analyses of the other . . . [Full text of this article]


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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Simpson, H. D (1995). Main public health issue is failure to use contraception. BMJ 311: 1638-1638 [Full text]  
  • Seamark, C. J (1995). Effect on women in a general practice in Devon ... BMJ 311: 1637a-1637 [Full text]  
  • Reijnen, H B M, Atsma, W J (1995). Risk is highest during first months of use. BMJ 311: 1639a-1639 [Full text]  
  • Donnelly, R J (1995). Studies implicate only gestodene and desogestrel. BMJ 311: 1639b-1639 [Full text]  
  • Wynn, V., Godsland, I. F, Crook, D., Stevenson, J. C (1995). Committee's action will undermine further research and development. BMJ 311: 1639c-1640 [Full text]  
  • Rawlins, M. (1995). Combined oral contraceptives and thromboembolism. BMJ 311: 1232a-1232 [Full text]  
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