GPs have been ordered to inform
patients that they are almost twice as likely to develop blood clots if
they take some of the most popular birth-control tablets, including
Yasmin, Femodene and Marvelon Photo: ALAMY
Telegraph
A million women who take Britain's most popular contraceptive pills are being
warned they risk developing potentially life-threatening blood clots.
GPs have been ordered to inform patients that they are almost twice as likely
to develop blood clots if they take some of the most popular birth-control
tablets, including Yasmin, Femodene and Marvelon, compared with older
products.
The alert was sounded after scientists found that the so-called third
generation contraceptives caused 14 deaths a year in France.
Britain's drug watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory
Agency (MHRA) has ordered UK doctors to pay "careful consideration"
to individuals' risk factors before prescribing them the combined hormonal
contraceptives.
A history of deep vein thrombosis or very high blood pressure are among the conditions that would prevent a doctor recommending the drugs.
A history of deep vein thrombosis or very high blood pressure are among the conditions that would prevent a doctor recommending the drugs.
This comes after a review by the European Medicines Agency which found that the packaging of the pills should be updated to ensure that women are made aware of the risks of blood clots.
The MHRA wrote a letter to doctors on January 22 which stated that "there is no need for anyone who has been using a combined hormonal contraceptive without any problems to stop taking it on the basis of this review".
It added: "Combined hormonal contraceptives are highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy. They offer substantial benefits and these far outweigh the small risk of serious side effects."
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