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The CSM have provided evidence that the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with oral contraceptives containing norethisterone, levonorgestrel or ethynodiol increases the risk (excess risk) of venous thromboembolism by around 10 to 15 cases per 100,000 women per annum. However these studies showed that combined oral contraceptives containing desogestrel and gestodene are associated with an approximate two-fold increase in the risk, compared with those containing other progestogens.
Insufficient data was available to know whether there was an increased risk associated with combined preparations containing norgestimate.
The National Prescribing Centre have stated that (1):
Circumstance | Risk of VTE per 100,000 women |
Healthy, non-pregnant women (not taking any oral contraceptive) | About 5 cases per year |
Women taking COCs containing levonorgestrel | About 15 cases per year of use |
Women taking COCs containing desogestrel or gestodene | About 25 cases per year of use |
Reference:
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