Fallout feared from pill findings

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Health experts fear unplanned pregnancy and abortion rates may rise after a flurry of publicity about the number of women dying from blood clots.

The Family Planning Association says abortion rates rose 3 per cent last year after research was released showing nine women on the pill had died from blood clots, which begin in the legs before dislodging and making their way to the lungs.

The publicity caused a number of women to give up the pill. Many of them failed to choose another contraceptive, causing an increase in unwanted pregnancies.

A study released last week by public health specialist Professor David Skegg has renewed fears that oral contraceptives are dangerous but women's health experts say the risks are minuscule and women should not give up the pill without discussing it with their doctor.

Professor Skegg found that 20 women on the pill had died in the past decade from pulmonary embolisms.

Women on the pill were 10 times more likely to develop blood clots, and one woman in every 100,000 would die.

The risk for those taking third-generation pills such as Femodene, Marvelon, Mercilon and Minulet was twice that of women on second-generation pills such as Brevinor, Levien, Loette, Nordette and Norimin.

Ministry of Health figures show that since publicity about the risk of blood clots began in 1996, use of third-generation pills in New Zealand has dropped from about 80 per cent of women using oral contraceptives to about 35 per cent.

But in spite of the research findings, health experts say women should not be frightened and must weigh up the risks of the pill against the benefits, which can include protection against ovarian cancer as well as suppression of painful menstruation side-effects.

Family Planning spokeswoman Dr Christine Roke said the new research, such as Professor Skegg's study, was important because more local information was needed about pill use and any associated risks.

The Medical Association yesterday slammed what it described as irresponsible reports by media commentators, including television personality Paul Holmes, who told women to throw away their third-generation pills.