Comments for Consumers

This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.

---

Australian Prescriber Vol. 25 No. 3 2002

Contraception and thrombosis

The oral contraceptive pill usually contains two female hormones. These are oestrogen and progestogen.

One of the less common side effects of the pill is a blood clot blocking a vein. This clot can cause serious problems if it moves to the lungs.

Blood clots are usually associated with the oestrogen in the pill. The oestrogen dose is therefore kept as low as possible.

There has been concern that some progestogens (desogestrel, gestodene and norgestimate) can also increase the risk of blood clots. This is controversial and any increased risk is likely to be small.

Women who have a history of blood clots are advised not to use the combined pill. If a woman has a family history of blood clots, she may need special tests of her blood clotting before she can take the pill. Being a smoker or being overweight also increases the risks of blood clots.

Many different types of contraception are available for women who cannot take the combined pill.