§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will update the information on the adverse side effects of the short-term use of Depo-Provera; if he will now ask the Committee on Safety of Medicines to examine data on adverse side effects of this drug from reputable individuals and organisations; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the publications, the authors, size of samples, period of study, 141W population background and nationality which clear Depo-Provera as a safe long-term contraceptive for mothers and their offspring up to child-bearing age; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. YaughanI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on 22 July 1980 and my reply on 4 November 1980.—[Vol. 989, c. 199–201; Vol. 991, c. 546.] Depo-Provera is not licensed in the United Kingdom as a long-term contraceptive, but, as the hon. Member is aware, the licensing authority is considering an application for this use. I have asked the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) to consider the points the hon. Member raised but it would be inappropriate to ask it to consider anecdotal evidence from either individuals or organisations.
Since my reply to the hon. Member on 10 December 1980—[Vol. 995, c. 666]—the CSM has received one additional report of suspected adverse reaction associated with Depo-Provera; this related to an injection site reaction.