Contraceptive pills and risk of blood clots

There is an increased risk of blood clots in women taking contraceptive pills. This risk has been known since contraceptive pills entered the market in the 1960s, which was an important step in the development of contraception for women. The contraceptive pill Yasmin® entered the Danish market in 2001. Since then, the Danish Medicines Agency has monitored adverse reactions from Yasmin® and assessed its adverse drug reaction profile in relation to other contraceptive pills of the combination type. The Danish Medicines Agency assesses that there are not more adverse reactions, including blood clots, associated with Yasmin® compared with other contraceptive pills of the same type.

Risk of blood clots

Yasmin's summary of product characteristics specifies that the risk of blood clots is higher during the first year when a woman is taking contraceptive pills. In addition, it appears that in one year there are 20-40 blood clots for every 100,000 women taking contraceptive pills. By comparison, in one year there are 5-10 blood clots for every 100,000 women who are not taking contraceptive pills. Consequently, there is an increased risk of blood clots in women taking contraceptive pills.

Women on contraceptive pills who are concerned about blood clots should consult their doctor.

Both doctors and patients can report adverse reactions to the Danish Medicines Agency, see the factbox to the right

For further information, please contact Chief Medical Officer Doris Irene Stenver, telephone +45 4488 9247.

The Danish Medicines Agency, 4 June 2007