Browse Guides  internal medicine  pulmonology

Pulmonary embolism

Prevalence
Clinical features
Differential Diagnosis
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Clinical features

Ask about oral contraceptive pill use b

Why?

  • It increases the risk of developing venous thromboembolism.
  • Third-generation oral contraceptives are slightly more dangerous than second generation. b
  • There is no clear evidence to suggest that women on HRT are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. a


Oral contraceptive pill increases the risk of venous thromboembolism very slightly

Patient Prognostic Factor Outcome CER OR
(95% CI)
NNF+
(95% CI)
healthy b oral contraceptive pill
independent
venous thromboembolism
at uncertain duration
0.003% 2.4
(1.6 to 3.5)
6000
(3400 to 14000)


Third generation contraceptives increases the risk of venous thromboembolism slightly more than second generation

Outcome Risk Factor Peer OR
(95% CI)
NNH
(95% CI)
venous thromboembolism b desogestrel or gestodene compared to levnogestrel
independent
0.012% 2.2
(1.0 to 4.7)
7000
(2300 to infinity)


Expiry date: July 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author   CM   Ball
Reviewer   B   Lee
CAT Writers   CM   Ball, C Wotton, M Hayatli