The pill...until when?
Wibaut, F.P.; Voskuijl, P.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 122(49): 1926-1932
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 723980 Document Number: 131839
Various side effects of oral contraceptive (o.c.) use have been examined in medical literature, e.g. thromboembolic complications, liver tumors. The use of o.c.s increased yearly in the Netherlands since 1962, accompanied by a decrease in the birth rate. Investigation of the literature shows that conflicting findings concerning the relationship between o.c. use and thromboembolic disease are reported. The mortality rate due to thromboembolic disease for women between 14 and 44 years of age is significantly lower in the Netherlands than in England, but o.c.s are used by 45% of the Dutch women in this group compared to 22% of the English women. It is concluded that o.c. use works synergetically with other factors, especially smoking, in the incidence of thromboembolic disease. If predisposing factors to thromboembolic disease exist, IUD or depot preparation use should be recommended. If the patient insists on using o.c.s., a low dosage estrogen compound should be prescribed. Every individual has the right to choose whether or not to use o.c.s; sometimes the psychological and medical risks of other contraceptive methods or unwanted pregnancy should be weighed against the medical risks of o.c. use. Patients should be informed of the possible risks of o.c. use.