Third generation oral contraceptives do increase the risk of venous thromboembolism

In 1995, a warning was issued by the Committee on the Safety of Medicines advising that third generation oral contraceptives should not be used in women with risk factors for venous thromboembolism, such as obesity. However, a study published in the BMJ based on data from the General Practice Research Database concluded that the risk of venous thromboembolism with third generation oral contraceptives was not greater than that with oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel. On p 1190 Jick et al show that the twofold risk of idiopathic venous thromboembolism associated with third generation oral contraceptives existed both before and after the warning.

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Relevant Article

Risk of venous thromboembolism among users of third generation oral contraceptives compared with users of oral contraceptives with levonorgestrel before and after 1995: cohort and case-control analysis

Hershel Jick, James A Kaye, Catherine Vasilakis-Scaramozza, and Susan S Jick
BMJ 2000 321: 1190-1195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]