U.S. warning on the pill

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 20

U.S. warning on the pill

NZPA Washington The United States Government has announced that it plans to update warnings on birth control pills to include new medical complications learned since 1970, the Associated Press reported. The proposal would require pharmacists to give a detailed brochure, explaining the pill’s benefits and risks, to every patient getting a new oral-contraceptive prescription or a refill. Until now, such information has been available from the woman’s doctor only if she requested it. The new brochure would advise the eight to 10M American women who use the pill that it: Should not be taken by women over the age of 40 because of the increased risk of heart attacks. Should never be taken bypregnant women because .they may injure the foetus. Should be discontinued three months before a woman ) tries to become pregnant, to avoid potential birth defects. i Should ba discontinued at

least four weeks before > any type of surgery that would involve an in-i t creased risk of blood; i clotting or prolonged i ! bed rest, because pill > users are four to six limes more likely to I have blood clots after) surgery than are women 11 not on the pill. 1 Appears to be associated. ’■ with non-malignant liver ! tumours which, although rare, could be fatal if they ruptured and resulted in internal bleedf ing. Has not been linked to canI cer, although women I I taking it should be > carefully monitored by their doctors for abnormal uterine bleeding and lumps in the breasts.