Women's health expert says UK study found an increase in blood clots after taking pills with drospirenone but officials report no such cases
BEN WESTCOTTben.westcott@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Monday, 14 September, 2015, 7:02am
UPDATED : Monday, 14 September, 2015, 8:08am
A study out from the UK this year found that the drug drospirenone, found in many birth control pill products, has been linked to increased incidences of blood clots.
A women's health expert has questioned whether more protection is needed for women in the city as birth control pills linked to an increased incidence of dangerous blood clots remained on sale locally, over the counter, without requiring a prescription from a doctor.
But the government said it had no recorded incidences of blood clots directly related to the pills in Hong Kong and that additional warnings had already been affixed to packaging.
A study in the United Kingdom this year found birth control pills containing drospirenone were twice as likely to cause life-threatening blood clots in users, presenting as strokes or deep vein thrombosis.
The study emphasised the chance of these clots was still low, about 14 cases in every 10,000 women.
A class action lawsuit is currently being put together by about 1,100 women in Australia who are taking to court the manufacturer of a birth control drug containing drospirenone.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, birth control brands Yasmin and Yaz, which contain drospirenone, are easily available from pharmacists without prescription or even a pharmacist's supervision.
When a female Post journalist tried to buy the pills at a popular Hong Kong pharmacy chain, no questions were asked; it was only when the journalist asked about their side effects, after purchase, that the pharmacist told her she should consult her doctor.
Carmen Wong, director of the Centre of Research and Promotion in Women's Health at Chinese University, said more safeguards should be put in place to protect women's safety when using birth control.
"In the UK, you would have to go to the doctor, you'd have to have checks and get your blood pressure taken, and show that you know how to take the pill," she said. "In Hong Kong, they don't do any of that."
A 2012 survey of women's birth control use in the city showed about 40 per cent of women had tried oral contraceptives at some point in their lives and about one in ten were still using them.
Wong said, at the very least, pills should be put behind the pharmacy counter and the government should consider requiring a prescription.
"I think there's more that could be done. There are other alternatives than what's going on now. It could be available behind a pharmacy counter and they should counsel patients on it.
"I'd [also] suggest having it as a doctor prescription would be better in a way, to monitor the use of contraceptives."
Wong said pharmacies had previously been pushing third-generation birth control such as Yasmin because compared to other birth control it had fewer side effects, which include nausea and breast discomfort.
A spokeswoman for the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong said it advised people to consult a medical professional before using oral contraceptives, but did not see the need for a prescription at present.
"Contraceptive supplies should be made easily accessible to those who require them, ideally after medical advice and counselling are obtained and an informed and responsible decision is made," she said.
A Department of Health spokesman said it had received no adverse reports on products containing drospirenone and that current cautionary labelling on packaging was adequate.
"[We] keep a vigilant watch on any safety issues of pharmaceutical products by various means," he said.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1857809/handle-care-hong-kong-health-expert-urges-more
