Specific oral contraceptive use and venous thromboembolism resulting in hospital admission.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with anti-androgen oral contraceptives containing cyproterone acetate and ethinyloestradiol.


METHODS
Comparison of the frequency of specific oral contraceptive use in patients aged 15 to 55 years discharged from hospital with radiologically confirmed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) with the expected frequency of use derived from national prescription data.


METHODS
Ratio of observed frequency of specific oral contraceptive use in patients with VTE versus expected frequency of use.


RESULTS
The rank order for observed versus expected use was anti-androgen > third-generation, > second-generation, > progestogen-only oral contraceptive agents with ratios of 1.93, 1.36, 0.70, and 0.39, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of VTE resulting in hospital admission associated with anti-androgen oral contraceptive use is at least as high as with third generation use.
Heuser
Patricia
P
Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
Tonga
Katrina
K
Hopkins
Raewyn
R
Henderson
Marissa
M
Weatherall
Mark
M
Metcalfe
Scott
S
Beasley
Richard
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011372:Progestins / Q000009:adverse effects; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D011372:Progestins; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate