Birth Control Pills (with estrogen) and Blood Clots

Disclaimer: ***The information in this article is not meant to substitute for the advice of a professionally trained medical professional. Health related questions are best addressed by your physician/nurse practitioner and NOTHING on the internet should substitute or replace their advice!***

Have you received a form of this email? (the content of the email is in green)

PASS THIS ON EVEN IF YOU DO NOT USE IT
Pass it to women as well as men. Men please pass this to all the women you know .

Recently this past week, my cousin Nicole Dishuk (age 31...newly graduated student with a doctoral degree about to start her new career as a Doctor...) was flown into a nearby hospital, because she passed out.

They found a blood clot in her neck, and immediately took her by helicopter to the ER to operate. By the time they removed the right half of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain; the clot had spread to her brain causing severe damage.

Since last Wednesday night, she was battling... they induced her into a coma to stop the blood flow, they operated 3 times... Finally, they said there was nothing left that they could do... they found multiple clots in the left side of her brain... the swelling wouldn't stop, and she was on life support...

She died at 4:30 yesterday. She leaves behind a husband, a 2yr old Brandon and a 4yr old Justin... The CAUSE of DEATH - they found was a birth control she was taking that allows you to only have your period 3 times a year... They said it interrupts life's menstrual cycle, and although it is FDA approved... shouldn't be - So to the women in my address book - I ask you to boycott this product & deal with your period once a month - so you can live the rest of the months that your life has in store for you.

*Please send this to every woman you know - you may save someone's life... Remember, you have a CYCLE for a reason !

The name of this new birth control pill is (Insert any birth control brand name here)

Okay okay okay. For years there have been various forms of this email circulating around the internet urging women not to use birth control pills of different brands, warning that they can cause clots, leading to stroke, death, etc. What many women don’t realize is that you actually have a greater risk of developing a blood clot while you are pregnant. Yup. According to the Katz in Comprehensive Gynecology, 3/ 10,000 women will experience a clot when taking a birth control pill that has an estrogen dose between less than 50 micrograms. 6/10,000 women will experience a clot during pregnancy.

Smoking over the age of 35 raises your risk of adverse effects if you are on an estrogen containing pill, so if you are approaching your mid 30s it is time to start thinking about quitting (though if you are smoking you should be thinking of quitting no matter what age).

If you have a known clotting disorder (protein C, protein S, or antithrombin III deficiency or activated protein C resistance) then you are at a higher risk of developing a clot and you should inform your physician of this prior to starting any estrogen containing pill. Current data suggest that the risk of a deep venous thrombosis (a blood clot in the legs) is about 30/10,000. Routine screening of clotting disorders is not recommended unless there are items in your history to suggest a disorder (like family history of clots at a young age in multiple relatives). If you do have a family history or personal history of blood clots, you can take a pill with only progestin in it (no estrogen).

So in short, your risk of developing a clot on estrogen containing birth control pills is lower than your risk of developing a clot while on birth control for the average woman without a known clotting disorder. If you have questions, consult your health care provider, but don’t let these emails scare you away from your right to prevent pregnancy.

© 2008 CGees