<p>Pregnancy, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, severe arterial disease (or family history of atherogenic lipid profile); liver adenoma; porphyria; after evacuation of hydatidiform mole; history of breast cancer; hepatic impairment; thrombophloebitis or thromboembolic disorders; breast carcinoma except in selected patients being treated for metastatic disease; oestrogen-dependent tumour; smoking &gt;40 cigarettes daily; &gt;50 yr; diabetes complications present; BMI &gt;39 kg/m2; migraine with typical focal aura, lasting &gt;72 hr despite treatment or migraine treated with ergot derivatives; BP &gt;160 mmHg systolic and 100 mmHg diastolic; transient ischaemic attacks without headaches; SLE; gallstones; history of haemolytic uraemic syndrome, pruritis during pregnancy; cholestatic jaundice; chorea or deterioration of otosclerosis pemphigoid; breast feeding during 1 st 6 mth after delivery.</p>