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  • Title: Warnings on venous thromboembolism risks may have been premature. New data may lead to change in use of third-generation OCs.
    Journal: Contracept Technol Update; 1997 Dec; 18(12):145-8. PubMed ID: 12348219.
    Abstract:
    The British Committee on Safety of Medicines' issuance of a public notice of the existence of an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) from using third-generation pills containing gestodene or desogestrel fomented considerable controversy in late 1995. Many British women either switched or stopped taking their oral contraceptives (OC) following the warning, leading in many cases to an increase in the level of abortions. However, findings presented at the recent International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) conference in Denmark suggest that the risk of VTE among users of OCs with third-generation progestins, compared with users of second-generation progestins, may be less than initially reported. It appears that the almost doubled risk initially reported in 1995 for third-generation OCs containing either desogestrel or gestodene is most likely due to confounding factors, such as the duration of pill use or prescribing bias. Findings are still being published. New research suggests that the two third-generation progestin pills actually may confer a reduced risk of myocardial infarction.
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