Effect of 1995 pill scare on rates of venous thromboembolism among women taking combined oral contraceptives: analysis of General Practice Research Database

Objective To compare the incidence of venous rhromboembolism among women ta king combined oral contraceptives before and after the October 1995 pill sc are. Design Analysis of General Practice Research Database. Setting United Kingdom, January 1993 to December 1998. Subjects Women aged 15-49 taking combined oral contraceptives. Main outcome measures Incidence of venous thromboembolism. Results Use of so called "third generation" combined oral contraceptives fe ll from 53% during January 1993 to October 1995 to 14% during November 1995 to December 1998. There was no significant change in the incidence of veno us thromboembolism between the two periods after age was adjusted for (inci dence ratio 1.04, 95%, confidence interval 0.78 to 1.39). Conclusions The findings are not compatible with the assertion that third g eneration oral contraceptives are associated with a twofold increase in ris k of venous thromboembolism compared with older progestogens.