ABSTRACT
Does the apparent ‘biological oestrogenicity’ of DSG/GSD pills make them relatively better than LNG/NET pills for arterial wall diseases, especially acute myocardial infarction (AMI)? The epidemiology to date indicates that if there is an arterial wall advantage through taking DSG/GSD pills, it can only exist among Pill-takers with arterial risk factors such as smoking, since in their absence there is no arterial risk from the COC (see pp. 33-6.)
Prescribing guidelines Which women are best for the Pill method? ‘Current scientific evidence suggests only two prerequisites for the safe provision of COCs: a careful personal and family history with particular attention to cardiovascular risk factors, and a well-taken blood pressure’ [Hannaford P, Webb A (1996). Evidence-guided prescribing of combined oral contraceptives: consensus statement. Contraception 54: 125-9]. Therefore:
