A leading doctor has moved to reassure women that the contraceptive pill is safe. 
 
 It follows the tragic death of a 21-year-old woman who suffered a fatal blood clot after she was prescribed the contraceptive pill. 
 
 Fallan Kurek, who worked as a teaching assistant with children with learning disabilities, was prescribed Rigevidon by her GP to regulate her periods. 
 
 Thousands of women across Northern Ireland take the pill daily to regulate periods, reduce painful periods and to protect from pregnancy. 
 
 The pill can also be used to treat acne. 
 
 Derry GP, Dr Tom Black from the British Medical Association, said: “I think it is fair to say that the pill has been used for decades and the formulations we are using now in terms of hormones are a lower dose than would have been many years ago. 
 
 “Obviously, you need to be careful and take professional advice, particularly those patients who are overweight, older or those who smoke. 
 
 “There are those people who can’t use the pill but overall there have been millions of prescriptions for the pill and most people can use it safely.” 
 
 Ms Kurek had been taking the pill for just 25 days when she collapsed at her home in Staffordshire in England. 
 
 BPM Fallan Kurek's parents, Brian and Julia Kurek 
 
 Paramedics rushed to her house after she began vomiting – but minutes later she stopped breathing and turned blue. 
 
 She was rushed to hospital but died three days later on May 14. 
 
 A postmortem found she died as a result of a pulmonary embolism – a blockage in the lung normally caused by a blood clot. 
 
 According to the NHS, there is a very low risk of serious side effects from taking the contraceptive pill, such as blood clots and cervical cancer. 
 
 Rigevidon is a combined oral contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. 
 
 Each tablet contains two types of female sex hormones – oestrogen and a progesterone in low doses. 
 
 Contraceptive pills that contain two hormones are called combined oral contraceptive pills. 
 
 The combined pill is not suitable for women over 35 who smoke, or women with certain medical conditions, such as those who have suffered migraines. ||||| The combined oral contraceptive pill is usually just called "the pill". It contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally in their ovaries. 
 
 A woman can get pregnant if a man's sperm reaches one of her eggs (ova). Contraception tries to stop this happening usually by keeping the egg and sperm apart or by stopping the release of an egg (ovulation). 
 
 Facts at a glance: the combined pill 
 
 How it works 
 
 What to do if you miss a pill 
 
 Who can use the combined pill 
 
 Advantages and disadvantages 
 
 Risks 
 
 At a glance : the combined pill 
 
 When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that fewer than one woman in 100 who use the combined pill as contraception will get pregnant in one year. Other methods, such as the IUD, implant and injection, are more effective. 
 
 at preventing pregnancy. This means that fewer than one woman in 100 who use the combined pill as contraception will get pregnant in one year. Other methods, such as the IUD, implant and injection, are more effective. The usual way to take the pill is to take one every day for 21 days, then stop for seven days, and during this week you have a period-type bleed. You start taking the pill again after seven days. 
 
 You need to take the pill at around the same time every day. You could get pregnant if you don't do this, or if you miss a pill, or vomit or have severe diarrhoea. 
 
 Some medicines may make the pill less effective. Check with your doctor if you're taking any other tablets. 
 
 If you have heavy periods or painful periods, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or endometriosis the combined pill may help. 
 
 Minor side effects include mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches. 
 
 There is no evidence that the pill makes women gain weight. 
 
 There's a very low risk of serious side effects, such as blood clots and cervical cancer. 
 
 The combined pill is not suitable for women over 35 who smoke, or women with certain medical conditions. 
 
 The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using a condom as well will help to protect you against STIs. 
 
 How the combined pill works 
 
 How it prevents pregnancy 
 
 Monophasic 21-day pills 
 
 Phasic 21-day pills 
 
 Every day (ED) pills 
 
 How to take 21-day pills 
 
 How to take every day pills 
 
 Starting the combined pill 
 
 Taking pill packs back-to-back 
 
 How it prevents pregnancy 
 
 The pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation). It also: 
 
 thickens the mucus in the neck of the womb, so it is harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg 
 
 thins the lining of the womb, so there is less chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb and being able to grow 
 
 The pill is over 99% effective if used correctly. Some women find it difficult to take the pill at the same time every day, and it's less effective if not used correctly. Other methods of contraception are better at preventing pregnancy, such as the IUD, IUS, implant and injection. 
 
 There are many different brands of pill, made up of three main types: 
 
 Monophasic 21-day pills 
 
 This is the most common type. Each pill has the same amount of hormone in it. One pill is taken each day for 21 days and then no pills are taken for the next seven days. Microgynon, Marvelon, Yasmine and Cilest are examples of this type of pill. 
 
 Phasic 21-day pills 
 
 Phasic pills contain two or three sections of different coloured pills in a pack. Each section contains a different amount of hormones. One pill is taken each day for 21 days and then no pills are taken for the next seven days. Phasic pills need to be taken in the right order. Logynon is an example of this type of pill. 
 
 Every d ay (ED) pills 
 
 There are 21 active pills and seven inactive (dummy) pills in a pack. The two types of pill look different. One pill is taken each day for 28 days with no break between packets of pills. Every day pills need to be taken in the right order. Microgynon ED is an example of this type of pill. 
 
 Follow the instructions that come with your packet. If you have any questions, ask your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist. 
 
 It's important to take the pills as instructed, because missing pills or taking them at the same time as certain medicines may make them less effective. 
 
 How to take 21-day pills 
 
 Take your first pill from the packet marked with the correct day of the week, or the first pill of the first colour (phasic pills). 
 
 Continue to take a pill at the same time each day until the pack is finished. 
 
 Stop taking pills for seven days (during these seven days you will get a bleed). 
 
 Start your next pack of pills on the eighth day, whether you are still bleeding or not. This should be the same day of the week as when you took your first pill. 
 
 How to take every day pills 
 
 Take the first pill from the section of the packet marked "start". This will be an active pill. 
 
 Continue to take a pill every day, in the correct order and preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished (28 days). 
 
 During the seven days of taking the inactive pills, you will get a bleed. 
 
 Start your next pack of pills after you have finished the first, whether you are still bleeding or not. 
 
 Starting the combined pill 
 
 Most women can start the pill at any time in their menstrual cycle. There is special guidance if you have just had a baby, abortion or miscarriage. 
 
 You may need to use additional contraception during your first days on the pill – this depends on when in your menstrual cycle you start taking it. 
 
 Starting on the first day of your period 
 
 If you start the combined pill on the first day of your period (day one of your menstrual cycle) you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. You will not need additional contraception. 
 
 Starting on the fifth day of your cycle or before 
 
 If you start the pill on the fifth day of your period or before, you will still be protected from pregnancy straight away, unless you have a short menstrual cycle (your period is every 23 days or less). If you have a short menstrual cycle, you will need additional contraception, such as condoms, until you have taken the pill for seven days. 
 
 Starting after the fifth day of your cycle 
 
 You will not be protected from pregnancy straight away and will need additional contraception until you have taken the pill for seven days. 
 
 If you start the pill after the fifth day of your cycle, make sure you have not put yourself at risk of pregnancy since your last period. If you're worried you're pregnant when you start the pill, take a pregnancy test three weeks after the last time you had unprotected sex. 
 
 What to do if you miss a pill 
 
 If you miss a pill or pills, or you start a pack late, this can make the pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. The chance of getting pregnant after missing a pill or pills depends on: 
 
 when the pills are missed 
 
 how many pills are missed 
 
 Find out what to do if you miss a combined pill. 
 
 Vomiting and diarrhoea 
 
 If you vomit within two hours of taking the combined pill, it may not have been fully absorbed into your bloodstream. Take another pill straight away and the next pill at your usual time. 
 
 If you continue to be sick, keep using another form of contraception until you've taken the pill again for seven days without vomiting. 
 
 Very severe diarrhoea (six to eight watery stools in 24 hours) may also mean that the pill doesn't work properly. Keep taking your pill as normal, but use additional contraception, such as condoms, while you have diarrhoea and for two days after recovering. 
 
 Speak to your GP or contraception nurse or call NHS 111 for more information, or if your sickness or diarrhoea continues. 
 
 Who can use the combined pill 
 
 If there are no medical reasons why you cannot take the pill, and you don't smoke, you can take the pill until your menopause. However, the pill is not suitable for all women. To find out whether the pill is right for you, talk to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist. 
 
 You should not take the pill if you: 
 
 are pregnant 
 
 smoke and are 35 or older 
 
 stopped smoking less than a year ago and are 35 or older 
 
 are very overweight 
 
 take certain medicines (ask your GP or a health professional at a contraception clinic about this) 
 
 You should also not take the pill if you have (or have had): 
 
 thrombosis (a blood clot) in a vein, for example in your leg or lungs 
 
 stroke or any other disease that narrows the arteries 
 
 anyone in your close family having a blood clot under the age of 45 
 
 a heart abnormality or heart disease, including high blood pressure 
 
 severe migraines, especially with aura (warning symptoms) 
 
 breast cancer 
 
 disease of the gallbladder or liver 
 
 diabetes with complications or diabetes for the past 20 years 
 
 After having a baby 
 
 If you have just had a baby and are not breastfeeding, you can most likely start the pill on day 21 after the birth but you will need to check with your doctor. You will be protected against pregnancy straight away. 
 
 If you start the pill later than 21 days after giving birth, you will need additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next seven days. 
 
 If you are breastfeeding, you're not advised to take the combined pill until six weeks after the birth. 
 
 After a miscarriage or abortion 
 
 If you have had a miscarriage or abortion, you can start the pill up to five days after this and you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start the pill more than five days after the miscarriage or abortion, you'll need to use additional contraception until you have taken the pill for seven days. 
 
 Advantages and disadvantages 
 
 Some advantages of the pill include: 
 
 it does not interrupt sex 
 
 it usually makes your bleeds regular, lighter and less painful 
 
 it reduces your risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and colon 
 
 it can reduce symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) 
 
 it can sometimes reduce acne 
 
 it may protect against pelvic inflammatory disease 
 
 it may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease 
 
 Some disadvantages of the pill include: 
 
 it can cause temporary side effects at first, such as headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a different pill 
 
 it can increase your blood pressure 
 
 it does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections 
 
 breakthrough bleeding and spotting is common in the first few months of using the pill 
 
 it has been linked to an increased risk of some serious health conditions, such as thrombosis (blood clots) and breast cancer 
 
 The combined pill with other medicines 
 
 Some medicines interact with the combined pill and it doesn't work properly. Some interactions are listed on this page, but it is not a complete list. If you want to check your medicines are safe to take with the combined pill, you can: 
 
 ask your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist 
 
 read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine 
 
 Antibiotics 
 
 The antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin (which can be used to treat illnesses including tuberculosis and meningitis) can reduce the effectiveness of the combined pill. Other antibiotics do not have this effect. 
 
 If you are prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, you may need additional contraception (such as condoms) while taking the antibiotic. Speak to your doctor or nurse for advice. 
 
 Epilepsy and HIV medicines, and St John's wort 
 
 The combined pill can interact with medicines called enzyme inducers. These speed up the breakdown of hormones by your liver, reducing the effectiveness of the pill. 
 
 Examples of enzyme inducers are: 
 
 the epilepsy drugs carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone and topiramate 
 
 St John's wort (a herbal remedy) 
 
 antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV (research suggests that interactions between these medicines and the progestogen-only pill can affect the safety and effectiveness of both) 
 
 Your GP or nurse may advise you to use an alternative or additional form of contraception while taking any of these medicines. 
 
 Risks of taking the combined pill 
 
 There are some risks associated with using the combined contraceptive pill. However, these risks are small and, for most women, the benefits of the pill outweigh the risks. 
 
 Blood clots 
 
 The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily. If a blood clot develops, it could cause: 
 
 deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg) 
 
 pulmonary embolus (clot in your lung) 
 
 stroke 
 
 heart attack 
 
 The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors that before prescribing the pill. 
 
 The pill can be taken with caution if you have one of the risk factors below. It is unlikely you would be advised to take it if you have two or more risk factors. These include: 
 
 being 35 years old or over 
 
 being a smoker or having quit smoking in the past year 
 
 being very overweight (in women with a BMI of 35 or over, the risks of using the pill usually outweigh the benefits) 
 
 having migraines (you should not take the pill if you have severe or regular migraine attacks, especially if you get aura or a warning sign before an attack) 
 
 having high blood pressure 
 
 having had a blood clot or stroke in the past 
 
 having a close relative who had a blood clot when they were younger than 45 
 
 being immobile for a long time – for example, in a wheelchair or with a leg in plaster 
 
 Cancer 
 
 Research is ongoing into the link between breast cancer and the pill. Research suggests that users of all types of hormonal contraception have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared with women who do not use them. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer goes back to normal. 
 
 Research has also suggested a link between the pill and the risk of developing cervical cancer and a rare form of liver cancer. However, the pill does offer some protection against developing womb (endometrial) cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer. 
 
 Where you can get the combined pill 
 
 Contraception is free to all women and men through the NHS. Places where you can get contraception include: 
 
 community contraception clinics 
 
 some genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics 
 
 sexual health clinics – they also offer contraceptive and STI testing services 
 
 some GP surgeries – talk to your GP or practice nurse 
 
 some young people's services (call the Sexual Health Line on 0300 123 7123 for more information) 
 
 Find your nearest sexual health clinic. 
 
 If you're under 16 years old 
 
 Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16. 
 
 If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given, and your decisions. 
 
 Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under 16. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they won't make you. 
 
 The only time that a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first. ||||| Following our story of the tragic death of 21-year-old Fallan Kurek, who after taking the contraceptive pill, we have pulled together the latest information on the risks of taking the combined pill or progestogen-only pill below. 
 
 This advice is taken from the NHS Choices website - which has more advice on contraception methods here 
 
 Risks of taking the combined pill 
 
 There are some risks associated with using the combined contraceptive pill. However, these risks are small and, for most women, the benefits of the pill outweigh the risks. 
 
 Blood clots 
 
 The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily. If a blood clot develops, it could cause deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg), pulmonary embolus (clot in your lung), stroke or heart attack . The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors that make you more vulnerable before prescribing the pill. 
 
 The pill can be taken with caution if you have one of the risk factors below, but you should not take it if you have two or more risk factors. These include: 
 
 being 35 years old or over 
 
 being a smoker or having quit smoking in the past year 
 
 being very overweight (in women with a BMI of 35 or over, the risks of using the pill usually outweigh the benefits) 
 
 having migraines (you should not take the pill if you have severe or regular migraine attacks, especially if you get aura or a warning sign before an attack) 
 
 having high blood pressure 
 
 having had a blood clot or stroke in the past 
 
 having a close relative who had a blood clot when they were younger than 45 
 
 being immobile for a long time – for example, in a wheelchair or with a leg in plaster 
 
 Advantages and disadvantages 
 
 Some advantages of the pill include: 
 
 it does not interrupt sex 
 
 it usually makes your bleeds regular, lighter and less painful 
 
 it reduces your risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and colon 
 
 it can reduce symptoms of PMS 
 
 it can sometimes reduce acne 
 
 it may protect against pelvic inflammatory disease 
 
 it may reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease 
 
 Some disadvantages of the pill include: 
 
 it can cause temporary side effects at first, such as headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a different pill 
 
 it can increase your blood pressure 
 
 it does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections 
 
 breakthrough bleeding and spotting is common in the first few months of using the pill 
 
 it has been linked to an increased risk of some serious health conditions, such as thrombosis (blood clots) and breast cancer 
 
 Risks of taking the progestogen-only pill 
 
 The progestogen-only pill is very safe to take. However, as with the combined contraceptive pill, there are certain risks. These risks are small. For most women, benefits of the progestogen-only pill outweigh the risks. 
 
 Ovarian cysts 
 
 Some women can develop fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries. These are not dangerous and do not usually need to be removed. These cysts usually disappear without treatment. In many cases, the cysts do not cause symptoms, although some women experience pelvic pain. 
 
 Breast cancer 
 
 Research is continuing into the link between breast cancer and the progestogen-only pill. Research suggests that women who use any type of hormonal contraception have a slightly higher chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared with people who don’t use hormonal contraception. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer goes back to normal. 
 
 If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may feel that this increase in risk (however small it is) is not worth taking. However, doctors do not think that using the contraceptive pill is likely to increase the risk in women who already have close relatives with breast cancer. 
 
 Advantages and disadvantages 
 
 Some advantages of the progestogen-only pill include: 
 
 it does not interrupt sex 
 
 you can use it when breastfeeding 
 
 it is useful if you cannot take the hormone oestrogen, which is in the combined pill, contraceptive patch and vaginal ring 
 
 you can use it at any age – even if you smoke and are over 35 
 
 it can reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and painful periods 
 
 Some disadvantages of the progestogen-only pill include: 
 
 you may not have regular periods while taking it – your periods may be lighter, more frequent or may stop altogether, and you may get spotting between periods 
 
 it does not protect you against STIs 
 
 you need to remember to take it at or around the same time every day 
 
 some medications, including certain types of antibiotic, can make it less effective 
 
 The progestogen-only pill is generally well tolerated and side effects are rare. Some side effects can include: 
 
 acne 
 
 breast tenderness and breast enlargement 
 
 an increased or decreased sex drive 
 
 mood changes 
 
 headache and migraine 
 
 nausea or vomiting 
 
 cysts (small fluid-filled sacs) on your ovaries (these are usually harmless and disappear without treatment) 
 
 stomach upset 
 
 weight gain 
 
 Have you experienced health problems using the contraceptive pill? We would like to hear from you. Email jonny.greatrex@trinitymirror.com ||||| When Fallan Kurek collapsed on the stairs at home her terrified parents had no idea what was wrong with their beloved daughter. 
 
 Paramedics rushed to her house in Tamworth after the 21-year-old teaching assistant vomited and minutes later she turned blue after she stopped breathing. 
 
 Fallan was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield with parents Brian and Julia by her side, but after three days in intensive care she was pronounced brain dead. 
 
 She passed away just hours later on Thursday May 14, surrounded by her loved-ones. 
 
 Her cause of death was recorded as pulmonary embolism on her lung – and her devastated parents say doctors said it was caused by the contraceptive pill she had been taking for just 25 days. 
 
 “We felt angry when they first mentioned it could be the pill,” said devastated Julia, who is also mum to Michael, 24, Robert, 22 and Jessica 19. 
 
 “She was only on it to regulate her periods. I couldn’t believe nobody had said the pill could do this. It should say it on the pack that they can kill and the label.” 
 
 Fallan, who worked as a teaching assistant with children with learning disabilities, was prescribed Rigevidon by her GP to regulate her periods. 
 
 Julia said her daughter was told to take the combined pill for three months before having a break. 
 
 Breathlessness 
 
 But after three weeks of taking the contraceptive, she began suffering with breathlessness and pains in her legs and ribs. 
 
 While out with her parents at a local salon she suffered what they thought was a panic attack. Worried Brian took her to the local Sir John Peel Hospital for a check-up where she was given an electrocardiogram (ECG). 
 
 “They said everything was fine, they said she had probably bruised her sternum,” recalled Julia. 
 
 “They said to go home and take some Ibuprofen and paracetemol. If symptoms continue then go see your GP. 
 
 “We thought nothing more of it, she still said she had this little niggling pain, but it wasn’t bothering her too much.” 
 
 Four days later Julia and Brian went to wake up Fallan to see if she was feeling any better. 
 
 “She said she felt fine, but when she sat up in bed she started getting breathless again,” said Brian, 52. 
 
 “She took her pill, then she got up, and then began walking downstairs. 
 
 “But as she got half way down the stairs she collapsed. I got to the bottom of the stairs and she just went limp in my arms.’’ 
 
 Paramedics arrived and began carrying out tests on the still conscious Fallan, but within minutes they switched to emergency CPR when she stopped breathing. 
 
 She was rushed to Good Hope Hospital’s intensive care unit, where she was put on a ventilator and emergency scans on her head and chest took place. 
 
 But Julia said medics then asked her whether her daughter was taking the pill. 
 
 “While they were working on her someone came in to talk to me,” said the mum. “They asked me whether there was any heart problems in the family, or if Fallan had taken drugs - definitely not. 
 
 “The third question was, ‘Is she on the pill?’ I said, ‘Yes, is that relevant?’ He said, ‘We know what it is’ and off he went. 
 
 “Brian and I just looked at each other - we couldn’t believe it.” 
 
 A scan revealed that Fallan had a large clot on her lung, causing the right side of her heart to become inflamed. She spent the next three days in ICU at Good Hope, while her parents waited anxiously by her bedside. 
 
 Emergency 
 
 “On Wednesday night we were told her blood pressure and heart rate had gone sky high, and she needed an emergency CT scan,” said Julia. 
 
 “I just had a horrible feeling. We knew that something bad had happened.” 
 
 Sadly, the CT scan revealed that Fallan was clinically brain dead after being starved of oxygen before arriving at hospital. 
 
 Her ventilator was switched off on Thursday May 14, and she died half an hour later at 5.10pm. 
 
 “Fallen was looking forward to the rest of her life,” said heartbroken Brian. “She was confident, cheeky, bubbly, and the mother hen to all her friends. 
 
 “We just don’t want any other family to go through this.” 
 
 Inquest 
 
 An inquest into her death will be conducted by the South Staffordshire coroner in due course. 
 
 Her parents have also been given a temporary death certificate, so they can finally give their daughter a funeral on May 29. 
 
 The family is asking that anyone wishing to make a tribute to Fallan to donate to the ICU unit at Good Hope Hospital. 
 
 Julia hopes sharing Fallan’s story will raise awareness about potentially fatal symptoms of blood clots and taking the pill. “This is all because of 25 days,” she said. 
 
 Her parents also hope medical professionals will take more time to explain serious side effects to all women, not just those in high risk groups, such as smokers or overweight women. 
 
 “They know the pill can cause blood clots,” said Brian. “We can’t bring her back, all we can do is maybe save another life.” 
 
 Regulation 
 
 The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the government body which regulates the drug, insists the pill is safe and that women should continue to take it. 
 
 A spokesman said: “Women should continue to take their contraceptive pill. These are very safe, highly effective medicines for preventing unintended pregnancy and the benefits associated with their use far outweigh their risks. 
 
 “The safety of contraceptive pills was reviewed at European level in 2014 and the review confirmed that the risk of blood clots with all contraceptives is small. The benefits of any combined hormonal contraceptive far outweigh the risk of serious side effects – prescribers and women should be aware of the major risk factors for blood clots and the key signs and symptoms. 
 
 “If women have questions, they should discuss them with their GP or contraceptive provider at their next routine appointment but should keep taking their contraceptive until they have done so.” 
 
 Gedeon Ritcher, the Hungarian company that manufacturer Rigevidon, did not respond when approached by the Birmingham Mail. 
 
 Have you experienced health problems using the contraceptive pill? We would like to hear from you. Email jonny.greatrex@trinitymirror.com
– A young woman died earlier this month from a pulmonary embolism that doctors link to her use of the contraceptive pill, her parents tell the Birmingham Mail. "We felt angry when they first mentioned it could be the pill," says Julia Kurek, mother of 21-year-old Fallan Kurek. "She was only on it to regulate her periods." Fallan was a "confident, cheeky, [and] bubbly" teaching assistant in England when she started her three-month prescription, Julia says, but soon suffered limb pains and breathlessness. A hospital electrocardiogram came up negative, so Fallan went home—and collapsed four days later. "She just went limp in my arms," says Julia. At the hospital a big clot was found on Fallan's lung, which inflamed her heart, and her heart rate and blood pressure shot up. An emergency CT-scan showed Fallan was brain dead from lack of oxygen, and three days later, her ventilator was turned off. Within a half hour, she was gone. "Fallan was looking forward to the rest of her life," says her dad Brian. "We just don’t want any other family to go through this." A formal inquest is pending, but according to the Kureks, doctors suspect that the "combined" pill (which contains artificial progesterone and estrogen) had given her blood clots. Medical officials say the combined pill is generally safe, but smokers over 35 or women with particular medical issues shouldn't take it, Belfast Live reports. Another Mail article compares risks involved with the combined and progesterone-only versions of the pill.