Influence of the third generation pill controversy on prescriptions for oral contraceptives among first time users: population based study

Women taking oral contraceptives containing gestodene or desogestrel (the so called third generation oral contraceptives) have a higher risk of venous thrombosis than women taking a second generation pill.1 After the first publication on the subject, in 1995,2 the discussion in Dutch medical journals was conservative; prescribing physicians were advised to not alarm women who did not have a risk of deep vein thrombosis, be cautious in the...