Quoted from http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/28/us-contraceptives-europe-idUSBRE90R0QM20130128
EU agency to review safety of newer contraceptive pills
LONDON | Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:11pm EST
LONDON (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency is to review the safety of third and fourth-generation combined oral contraceptives to decide if there is a need to restrict their use.
Monday's move followed a request by France, where authorities have already taken steps to reduce use of the drugs in favor of second-generation birth control pills.
The newer pills, which include Bayer's Meliane or Yasmin, have proved popular because they reduce side effects seen with earlier versions, such as weight gain and acne.
But France wants the European Union regulator to restrict their use because of concerns they carry a higher risk of dangerous blood clots.
While all oral contraceptives are associated with some danger of blood clots, a number of studies suggest the most recent third- and fourth-generation pills carry a higher risk than their predecessors.
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