March 12, 2010

expert reaction to research suggesting that the contraceptive pill is not associated with increased long-term risk of death, as published in the BMJ

The study, one of the biggest to date, shows that there is a lower overall risk of death, from any cause, in women who have ever taken the contraceptive pill.

Prof Richard Anderson, Honorary Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh & MRC Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, said:

“The results of this study are enormously reassuring and suggest that in the longer term the health benefits of the contraceptive pill outweigh any risks. In particular, it is very positive news that in the longer term women who used oral contraception had a lower rate of death from heart disease. As the authors point out, their findings might not reflect the experience of women using modern contraceptives which may have a different risk than earlier products, and it is important that this is followed up on.”