Margita Belicová, Marian Mokáň
Since their introduction, the use of oral contraceptives has been linked to an increased incidence of tromboembolic events. Epidemiological studies have shown that women who use a third-generation oral contraceptives containing desogestrel, gestodene or norgestimate have a higher risk of venous thrombosis than women who use second-generation oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel. Women who use oral contraceptives are a significantly less sensitive to activated protein C. Oral contraceptives constitute heterogeneous class of medicament, which have except contraception another positive influence and it is impossible to take negative position to use it. They have indication and contra-indication. They cannot be recommended for women with antecedent thrombophilias, in women with previous history of thromboembolic disease (pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis) or arterial hypertension during pregnancy, or previous history of thromboembolic disease apart from pregnancy, women with positive familiar history of thromboembolic disease and fat and smoky women.