Contraceptive pills and thrombosis/embolism

Based on a television report about the tragical fate of young Celine aired in 2009, the public was made to believe that users of the contraceptive pills Yasmin®, Yasminelle® und YAZ® are prone to life-threatening thrombosis and embolism.

Facts

• The pill is a safe contraceptive method with little complications; those happen mostly (not always) in women with additional risk factors like smoking, rare disorders of the blood clotting system or immobilisation (wearing a cast, long-distance flights).
• According to Swiss national health authority, drospirenone (the progesterone component of Yasmin®) has a similar risk of thrombosis as other pills (media bulletin of October 2009). Yasmin® being a relatively new product, it is not surprising that it generates more reports about side effects, and it could be selectively prescribed to women with risk factors.
• Thrombosis in disposed women occurs quite early, within the first months of use. Most cases of thrombosis do never progress to tragical consequences like in Celine.
• Every women has to weigh the small risks of the pill against the benefits (safe contraception, control the time of bleeding, less menstrual pain).

Users of Yasmin®, Yasminelle® und YAZ®: what next?

• DO NOT PANIC! Do not go off the pill precipitately, and do not risk an unwanted pregnancy.
• Those using these products for more than one year do certainly not need to change the product.
• It is still too early to judge whether drospirenone-containing pills are a good choice for young first-time users.

We will gladly give our patients more informations personally.
Dr Michael Singer
Dr Julia Scherbaum
Dr Friederike Bender