Herz
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Oral contraceptives represent the most commonly employed means of contraception in the Federal Republic; they are used in 25% of all women in child-bearing age. The risk of myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death while taking oral contraceptives is determined primarily by three factors: the age of the user, the type and concentrations of estrogen and gestagen administered as well as the concomitant risk factors for coronary artery disease. With currently-used low-dose hormonal contraceptives, in young women (less than 30 years of age) who do not smoke and do not have other risk factors for coronary artery disease, there is no clear increase in the normally low risk of developing coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction. ⋯ The relevance of the duration of oral contraceptive use on the risk of infarction remains controversial. The number of young women with myocardial infarction and no or single-vessel coronary artery disease is significantly higher at 60% in women who have used oral contraceptives than in women of comparable age without oral contraceptive use (30%). The pathophysiological mechanism primarily responsible for myocardial infarction in oral contraceptive users and smokers appears to be thrombosis.