The 'pill scare': the responses of authorities, doctors and patients usingoral contraception

In October 1995, the regulatory authority in the UK issued a warning about an increased risk of venous thromboembolism in women taking third-generatio n combined oral contraceptives, This was done before publication of the sci entific papers involved, and resulted in a huge media 'pill scare'. The man ner in which the information was released has been criticised, as many doct ors did not receive their 'Dear Doctor' letter from the regulatory authorit y until after media reporting. The result of the scare has been a loss of c onfidence in the oral contraceptive pill in general, and a rise in abortion rates.