Stroke and heart attack caused by the pill etc? Professional societies rate the risk as low
25.07.2012 11:10
Female sex hormones in birth control pills, contraceptive patches or vaginal rings can affect blood clotting and - in rare cases - lead to blood clots. The result can be deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack or stroke. A current Danish study has now examined the risk of stroke and heart attack over a period of 15 years in a total of more than 1.6 million women. However, according to the German Stroke Society (DSG) and the German Neurological Society (DGN), the risk to individual women is very low and can be further reduced through precautionary measures.
“The risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism from hormonal contraceptives has long been known,” explains Professor Dr. med. Matthias Endres, 1st Chairman of the DSG and Director of the Clinic for Neurology at the Berlin Charité: “That is one reason why the birth control pill continues to require a prescription even 50 years after its introduction.” Before gynecologists issue a prescription, they must assess the individual risk carefully assess your patient. “A known tendency to thrombosis or being very overweight is often a reason to switch to other effective contraceptive methods,” says Professor Endres.
The risk of thrombosis in the veins has been well studied: in the worst case, it can lead to a pulmonary embolism. But according to Professor Endres, there have been hardly any reliable figures on the risk of heart attack and stroke. A study from Denmark changes this: According to the Berlin expert, it provides a reliable basis for medical advice. The Copenhagen researchers correlated all prescriptions of hormonal contraceptives over a period of 15 years with hospital treatment for strokes and heart attacks. “The investigation shows that there is minimal risk,” states the expert. “But it is significantly lower than the risk of venous thrombosis.”
The personal risk of the individual user is low
According to the Danish researchers' calculations, on average 6.8 out of 10,000 women who use one of today's common methods of hormonal contraception develop a venous thrombosis each year. In addition, two women in 10,000 would suffer a heart attack or stroke per year, although the risk varies depending on the type and dose of hormones. “With the contraceptive pill, the dose of estrogen and the choice of progestin play a role,” explains Professor Dr. med. Hans-Christoph Diener, spokesman for the German Society for Neurology and director of the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital in Essen. Contraceptive patches or vaginal rings also carried a minimally increased risk in the study. However, there was no increased risk for the IUD – the version that releases hormones. This is certainly important information for advising women, says Professor Diener, who overall sees no reason for great concern. “However, hormone preparations must never be used carelessly,” warns the expert from Essen: “If in doubt, women should seek medical advice and use other, equally safe contraceptives.”