The long-term risks of using oral contraceptives (the pill) have been debated for some time. The increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, especially in women who smoke, is well-established. Now there's evidence of a new vascular risk - this time to the arteries.

Belgian researchers reported at the American Heart Association meeting that among 1,300 women those who were taking the pill have about 3 times higher serum C-reactive protein (CRP) than those not using it. This suggests strongly that there is a degree of inflammation going on in the body, somewhere. Over half the women on the pill had CRP levels above 3 mg/L, which places them in the 'high risk' category.

The scientists therefore went on to perform vascular echographology of the carotid and femoral arteries - a type of ultrasound exam - which allowed assessment of the presence of atherosclerosis. The presence of atherosclerotic plaques was increased in women using the pill for at least a year, in comparison with non-users. The degree of increase was about 20% to 30% for every 10 years of pill usage.

The researchers state firmly that their findings don't mean that women should cease using the pill. First, the findings need to be replicated before too much importance is attached to them. But such a study should be done, rather than allowing these results to be ignored. Yes, most definitely.