A YOUNG Hampshire mother collapsed and died because she took the contraceptive pill, it emerged today.

Erin Sen was just 22 when a blood clot caused by the oral contraceptive Ovran claimed her life.

She collapsed in the bedroom of her home in front of her two-year-old son Sami.

Mrs Sen's husband, Salih, called an ambulance to their New Forest home but paramedics were unable to save her.

She had been taking the high-dose contraceptive pill since June 1999, an inquest in Bournemouth was told.

District coroner Sheriff Payne heard Mrs Sen, of Christchurch Road, New Milton, had experienced difficulties with other contraceptive pills before accepting Ovran.

The inquest was told that Ovran is one of just two high-dose oral contraceptives available, although there are at least 50 others.

Pathologist Dr David Parham said Mrs Sen had a massive blood clot in her lung that led to her death on January 24.

"I am of the opinion that this was precipitated by the taking of the oral contraceptive," he said.

But Dr Parham stressed that the risk must be put in perspective and added: "The side effects and complications of pregnancy are probably greater."

Dr Parham said five women in every 100,000 develop such clots if they are healthy and do not take the Pill. The risk rises to 15 women among those who take the Pill and 60 women who are pregnant.

The inquest was told that Mrs Sen was prescribed Ovran by her GP when she lived on the Isle of Wight. She and her husband moved to New Milton last summer and her new GP continued to prescribe the contraceptive.

The inquest was told that Mrs Sen rejected suggestions that she change to a lower-dose drug and said she was happy with Ovran.

The risks of taking the drug were explained to her by both doctors.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Payne said: "There is still a risk with taking the oral contraceptive, particularly the higher strength ones. This was something which, sadly, does happen.''