Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (7)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Furedi, A
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Furedi, A
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Human Reproduction Update, Vol.5, No.6 pp.621-626, 1999
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 1999; all rights reserved

Social consequences. The public health implications of the 1995 'pill scare'

A Furedi

British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Austy Manor, Wooten Wawen, Solihull, West Midlands B95 6BX, UK

Abstract

The warning issued by the UK Committee on Safety Medicines in October 1995, followed by their 'Dear Doctor' letter of October 18, 1995, that oral contraceptive pills containing gestodene or desogestrel were associated with a higher risk of venous thromboembolism has had a negative impact on public health. A significant number of women either switched brands or ceased contraception altogether following the announcement. National data suggest a strong association between the pill scare and a substantial increase in the number of unintended pregnancies, particularly significant among younger women, with use of oral contraception falling from 40 to 27% of under 16s between 1995-1996 and 1996-1997. The resulting cost of the increase in births and abortions to the National Health Service has been estimated at about £21 million for maternity care and from £46 million for abortion provision. The level of risk should, in future, be more carefully assessed and advice more carefully presented in the interests of public health.

Key words: oral contraception/public health/pill scare


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.