Cases of thrombosis following COVID-19 vaccination have sparked a lot of talk about other agents that can lead to blood clots. These include birth control pills. Do you really need to be concerned about oral contraception? Explains prof. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta, gynecologist and endocrinologist.
- Some drugs on the list of possible side effects have thrombosis. They include, among others birth control pills
- Oral contraception is one of the most effective and, at the same time, the most common methods of planning a pregnancy
- – Today we have research and we know the benefits of hormonal contraception – says in an interview with Medonet Prof. Skrzypulec-Plinta
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Agnieszka Mazur-Puchała, Medonet: The information about thrombosis as a rare side effect of COVID-19 vaccines caused that the statistics on thrombosis after birth control pills started to come out. Women became afraid of taking them. Rightly?
Prof. dr hab. n. med. Violetta Skrzypulec-Plinta, gynecologist, endocrinologist, sexologist: The risk of VTE generally increases with age, ranging from 1 to 5 in 10. women per year. With a physiological pregnancy, this ratio increases – from 5 to 20 per 10. women. In childbirth, it is already 40 to 75 women per 10. per year. It should also be remembered that termination of pregnancy is also a high risk of thrombosis and other complications, such as infections that may lead to infertility or death of a woman.
In the case of estrogen-progesterone contraception, we know that the risk of thrombosis exists – from 3 to 15 women per 10. per year. However, this risk is lower than during the physiological period of pregnancy or puerperium.
So the risk is not that great at all? There is no reason to give up birth control pills?
Absolutely not! Hormonal contraception gives you a sense of security and the opportunity to plan your pregnancy. In addition, it also has a number of non-contraceptive properties, i.e. it helps not only to protect against unplanned pregnancy, but also to treat and prevent serious diseases. It should be remembered that oral contraceptive pills reduce by 44%. the risk of developing endometrial cancer, and about 42 percent. for ovarian cancer. They reduce the amount of lost menstrual blood, thus 50 percent. protecting against anemia. DTA also has a beneficial effect in the treatment of painful menstrual bleeding or premenstrual syndrome, the so-called PMS.
It is regrettable that the topic of contraception, and thus women’s rights, is being marginalized. After all, generations of women fought for our rights, and now suddenly it wouldn’t matter?
Today we have research and we know the benefits of hormonal contraception. We also know what would happen if we did not have the vaccines.
We have combined estrogen-progesterone pills and those containing only progesterone. In the case of the latter, the risk of thrombosis is much lower. Isn’t that a reason to use only such pills?
When choosing contraception, the most important things are: interview, interview and interview. It is impossible to choose one and the same contraceptive pill for every woman. We cannot always prescribe a pill with progesterone alone. We must, in a way, “sew a dress out of hormones” – according to the needs and measures of a given woman. For example, we cannot recommend an estrogen-progesterone pill to an anorexic patient. She will get progesterone alone. The two-component tablet, on the other hand, will help a woman who has heavy menstrual bleeding.
In order for the contraceptive pill to show the most beneficial effects, it must be properly selected. Make sure about family burdens and if there are any contraindications to its use. It is necessary to assess whether there is a risk of thromboembolism and to choose the non-contraceptive benefits of the pill.
Also read:
- The six most common symptoms of thrombosis
- Thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following COVID-19 vaccine. Where do they come from?
- Contraceptive pills – action, types and side effects [WE EXPLAIN]
- Asia gives birth in a few days. This is not a joyful countdown
- Americans are giving up the second dose of the vaccine. How many Poles did not come for vaccination?
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