Third generation oral contraceptives
BMJ 1996; 312 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7030.576 (Published 02 March 1996) Cite this as: BMJ 1996;312:576
CSM's advice will harm women's health worldwide
- Evert Ketting
- Deputy director Netherlands Institute of Social Sexological Research, Utrecht, Netherlands
EDITOR,—The Committee on Safety of Medicines' recent advice that oral contraceptives containing gestodene or desogestrel should not be prescribed1 has caused confusion and concern among family planning specialists and has major public health implications.
In 1977 the Royal College of General Practitioners concluded that women aged over 35 and heavy smokers aged over 30 should not use oral contraceptives because of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.2 These conclusions were highlighted in the Dutch media and caused a drop in the use of oral contraceptives from 34% to 27%, …
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