Oral contraceptives and venous thromboembolic events [letter]

The recent introduction of drospirenone-containing OCs marks the introduction of the first large nonnortestosterone oral progestin for routine contraception in the United States. European and U.S. trials have demonstrated that routine contraceptive use of drospirenone is associated with safety and efficacy comparable to those of other low-dose OCs. However the British Medical Journal (BMJ) recently republished a letter from the Dutch drug safety surveillance group LAREB that cited details about blood clots occurring in 5 women using the combined oral contraceptive Yasmin ® (drospirenone 3 Asmg and ethinyl estradiol 30 µg) (Berlex Laboratories Wayne New Jersey). Unfortunately that article and the media coverage that subsequently appeared in the United States may have incorrectly led some readers to believe that a further increase in risk of venous thromboembolic events is attributable to the contraceptive use of Yasmin ®. (excerpt)