DVT and embolisms ? Heh. I can understand a pap smear and lab work to look at estrogen lvls.
4th generation coc components - might want to read up on that in relation to DVE / DVT risks compared to 2nd gen coc components. Estrogen causes DVE's, we know that. The new part is the type of gestagen can do this too - that's why the practice has changed in Europe and possibly in the states - 2nd gen are preferred over 3rd/4th now because the DVE risk is more than doubled (Levonorgestrel vs Drospirenone). I'm sure you knew that.
Here are four pub med references to bmj in case you didn't.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
1.Vlieg AVH, Helmerhorst FM, Vandenbroucke JP, Doggen CJ, Rosendaal FR. The venous thrombotic risk
of oral contraceptives, effects of oestrogen dose and progestogen type: results of the MEGA case-control
study. BMJ 2009;339:b2921
http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b...&pmid=19679614
2.Lidegaard ?, L?kkegaard E, Svendsen AL, Agger C. Hormonal contraception and risk of venous
thromboembolism: national follow-up study. BMJ 2009;339:b2890
http://www.bmj.com/content/339/bmj.b...&pmid=19679613
3.Parkin L, Sharples K, Hernandez RK, Jick SS. Risk of venous thromboembolism in users
of oral contraceptives containing drospirenone or levonorgestrel: nested case-control
study based on UK General Practice Research Database. BMJ 2011:340:d2139.
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d...&pmid=21511804
4.Jick SS, Hernandez RK. Risk of non-fatal venous thromboembolism in women using oral
contraceptives containing drospirenone compared with women using oral contraceptives
containing levonorgestrel: case-control study using United States claims data. BMJ
2011;340:d2151.
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d...&pmid=21511805