What is to be thought of the Dunlop Committee recommendation concerning the anti-ovulation pills?
Grégoire, L.
Revue Medicale de Liege 26(4): 113-117
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0370-629X PMID: 5546811 Document Number: 40897
Several British and U.S. retrospective studies on thromboembolism among users of oral contraceptives prompted the Dunlop Committee to recommend that pills with over 50 mcg mestranol or ethinyl estradiol be avoided to reduce mortality risks by 50%. It is noted that the incidence of idiopathic cases of thromboembolism seems to be increasing, and cigarette smoking may be a cause. Possible etiologic factors, such as lesions in the endothelium of the blood vessels, clotting factors, blood lipids, hypertension, all due to estrogen intake, are discussed. A thromboembolism is sometimes predictable in individuals if there is migraine, visual disturbance, or certain predispositions seen in pregnancy such as toxemia or hypertension. The risks should be weighed against those of other methods of contraception, and against those of pregnancy, but not against those of illegal abortion, which is an unrelated social problem. Women with serious medical indications for effective contraception should be considered differently from those who desire family planning only.