Elsevier

Contraception

Volume 55, Issue 1, January 1997, Pages 11-14
Contraception

Original research article
Increased number of induced abortions in Norway after media coverage of adverse vascular events from the use of third-generation oral contraceptives

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0010-7824(96)00236-3Get rights and content

Abstract

After the press release in Lancet (October 18, 1995) of increased risks for adverse vascular events in users of pills containing desogestrel and gestodene, the total sales of oral contraceptives dropped over a two-month period by 17%, while sales of the only desogestrel brand available (Marvelon) dropped by over 70% in Norway. From sales, we can estimate that more than 45,000 women either changed from Marvelon to a second- or first-generation brand or stopped using OCs. In total, more than 25,000 women discontinued OC use in Norway during November and December of 1995.

Abortion data from one Norwegian county, representing 6–7% of the Norwegian population, show no statistically significant changes in the total number of induced abortions from the first quarter of 1996 as compared with that of the first quarter in preceding years. However, abortion rates that had been steadily decreasing from 1992 through 1995 in women 24 years old or younger, were promptly interrupted by a significant 36% increase during the first quarter of 1996. Most of the additional cases were found among single, childless studients.

The observed increased abortion rate among younger women is most probably linked to changes in contraceptive use during the pill scare of late October through December of 1995, during which time these women conceived.

References (11)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (50)

  • The French pill scare and the reshaping of social inequalities in access to medical contraceptives

    2020, SSM - Population Health
    Citation Excerpt :

    The most important one occurred in October 1995 (Marks, 2001), following the publication of several studies revealing that the use of third generation1 pills is associated with a two to three times higher risk of deep vein thrombosis compared to second generation oral contraceptives (Bloemenkamp, Rosendaal, Helmerhorst, Büller, & Vandenbroucke, 1995; Jick, Jick, Gurewich, Myers, & Vasilakis, 1995; Spitzer, Lewis, Heinemann, Thorogood, & MacRae, 1996; Farley, Meirik, Chang, Marmo, Poulter, 1995). At that time, several countries saw a decrease in pill use such as the United Kingdom (Balasch, 1997; Barnett & Breakwell, 2003; Martin, Hilton, & Kerry, 1997), Norway (Skjeldestad, 1997) and the Netherlands (de Vries, van den Berg, & de Jong-van den Berg, 1998). In France, no decrease in pill use has been observed since the public authorities.

  • Women's television watching and reproductive health behavior in Bangladesh

    2017, SSM - Population Health
    Citation Excerpt :

    For example, in the US, media coverage of the public debate over risks of children’s aspirin consumption was associated with an abrupt decline in use of aspirin in children and in the incidence of the diseases associated with its use (Soumerai, Ross-Degnan, & Kahn, 1992). General health reporting can also influence health behavior negatively, however, especially if it is inaccurate or overly simplified (e.g. Skjeldestad, 1997; Mason & Donnelly, 2000). Entertainment, such as reality TV, drama, movies, chat shows, etc., is the principal product of the television industry.

  • Unsafe Abortion

    2016, International Encyclopedia of Public Health
  • The birth control pill, thromboembolic disease, science and the media: a historical review of the relationship

    2016, Contraception
    Citation Excerpt :

    The press for its part reported extensively not only on the science but also on the debate within the scientific community [59], which added to the growing unease among patients and providers [17]. As some had predicted, the CSM's warning was followed by increased birth and abortion rates in several countries [17–20,60–62]. Extensive debate continued in many circles over the interpretation of these initial and subsequent studies of pills containing third-generation progestins, culminating in a reversal of the CSM decision, indicating that the results were not as definitive as originally thought [20].

  • Abortion

    2008, International Encyclopedia of Public Health
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text