Lately there have been many articles about the third generation of contraceptive pills and about young women who have died from it. The third generation pills are, Desolett, Mercilon and Trimiron. Many people who have used these pills have been worried and afraid about getting a thromb. That’s why many users have quit using it or changed to an other one. The risk for having a thromb is largest the first year you are on the pill. But should we be afraid of eating these pills or not?

Facts 1951 The first artificial version of the female sex chromosome "progesterone" was produced. 1960 It was introduced on the American market. And four years later on the Swedish market. The contraceptive pill was longed- for and many women started to use it as soon as it came out. About 80- 90 millions of women’s world wide are using it today, and 400 000 of these in Sweden. The combined pills contains a combination of two hormones and one of those are the female chromosomes oestrogen that causes the thromb for those who are in the danger-zone for having it.

The Risk
In an interview with Lisen Arvidsson, a midwife at the youth reception here in Örnsköldsvik, we got to know that you could get a thromb with all the pills but if you use combined pills the risk increase with less then 1/10 per thousand. That’s not much but if you or anyone in your family who have been treated for a thromb, you should get yourself tested to see if you can use the combined pill or not. If you can’t use it, it’s an alternative to take the minipill.

Minipills
The Minipill is not combined pill and dosen’t contain oestrogen. That’s why those who can’t use the combined pill can use this one instead. With these pills the disadvantage are that the menstruation can be absent and small bleedings are usual, but the safety are with these pills the same as with the combined pills. Those who can’t use the combined pills are those who are:

· In the danger-zone for having a thromb · Sturdy overweight · Big smokers over 35 years old And those who have had an · Earlier cardiac valve operation · Earlier breast cancer · Present acute liver disease · If you can’t move and have to lie down for example because of an operation.

Lisen Arvidsson in her room at the youth- reception, here in Örnsköldsvik.

The First to the third generation The pills are divided in generations because of when they came out on the market. The first generation of contraceptive pills was the first pills that was produced When new pills came on the market they called them the second generation of contraceptive pills and it became sort of a public relations trick. That is why the new pills that are used to day are called the third generation. An other thing that separates the first and the third generation is that the first one contained 85 milligram hormones per month and today the pills contains 2,2 milligram hormones per month. That means that today’s pills have less side-effects than the older ones but they are still as safe as them.

The Fourth Generations Pill
A new pill without oestrogen is on the way, but yet no one can tell when it’s going to come out on the market. It going to count as an combined pill and it will revolutonize the market if it works as it’s supposed to. And because of it’s free from oestrogen it can be used by everyone.


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Writers: Sandra Svensson (sp03-43@park.se), Lisette Värnholm (sp03-46@park.se).
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