The Risk Benefit Balancing Act: Doing the Math

The FDA held hearings on Dec 8 and 9 on two birth control methods: oral contraceptives containing a progestin called drospirenone  (DRSP) a spironolactone analogue)  and a contraceptive patch marketed in the USA as Ortho EVRA. Several post market studies suggest that pills containing drospirenone impose a higher risk of venous thromboembolic events  (VTE) than earlier versions of the pill.  The patch has also been associated with a higher risk.