[Contraception using a progestagen-only minipill in cardiac patients]

Contraception for cardiac patients can be a problem since very often either the IUD or an estrogen-progesterone combination are contraindicated. 40 cardiac patients of whom 28 were high risk cases were treated for 6-20 months with low-dose lynestrenol. Results were excellent despite evident changes in the menstrual cycle. Moreover the method is reversible and totally safe even for cardiac patients. There were no hypertension or thrombolitic side effects. Glucose and lipid metabolism hepatic functions blood coagulation platelet aggregation and antithrombin 111 were perfectly normal even after 6 months of therapy and even in most high risk patients. This method seems highly acceptable for cardiac patients provided they are closely surveilled throughout the whole period of treatment.