Can The combined oral contraceptive pill affect future fertility?
A change from a third generation pill to a second generation would be expected to prevent the death of one women in every million taking the combined oral contraceptive pill. There are risks in most aspects of life. We cannot be complacent but every effort should be made to ensure that when clinical information is presented to the public, it is presented in perspective. One death in a million is a tiny risk but for any family (and doctor) involved it is a disaster of the most enormous proportion. There has been an indication that third generation progestogens may have been safer in relation to heart disease. The latest evaluation of the third generation of the combined oral contraceptive pill has concluded that these pills can be prescribed as a first choice preparation. There are a number of factors to be taken into account when assessing risk and the tiny risks involved probably make it virtually impossible to distinguish risks between second and third generation pills.
