New Pill safer than skin patch contraceptive, say experts

Women who use a vaginal ring or skin patch as contraceptive methods are at around double the risk of a blood clot compared to those who take the second generation of contraceptive pills, according to a large-scale study.

Research published on bmj.com has shown women using the skin patch have an eight times increased risk of venous thrombosis and those using the vaginal ring a 6.5 times increased risk compared with women who do not use any type of hormonal contraception. This compares with a threefold increase risk of a blood clot among women taking a combined oral contraceptive pill containing the hormone levonorgestrel.

The study found that using the progestogen-only subcutaneous implant carried a slightly increased risk, while use of a progestogen-only intrauterine device did not confer any risk and might have a protective effect.

A team at the University of Copenhagen reviewed data on non-oral hormonal contraceptive use and first-ever venous thrombosis in all Danish non-pregnant women aged 15-49 from 2001 to 2010.