To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the levels of risk of venous thromboembolisms per 100,000 women per year for (a) smoking and (b) non-smoking (1) women not using (i) oral contraceptives, (ii) second generation oral contraceptives, (iii) oral contraceptives containing desogentrol or gestodene and (2) in pregnancy. [5146]

Smoking is not clearly established to he a factor which affects the risk of venous thromboembolism. This is in contrast to its important effect on the risk of arterial disease associated with the use of oral contraceptives.The approximate levels of risk of venous thromboembolism in women according to use of oral contraceptives and pregnancy are shown in the table.