According to the latest research by scientists, oral contraception can lead to stroke.
About 100 million women worldwide use hormonal contraceptives. Modern oral contraceptives contain significantly less estrogen than previous generations of these drugs. The link between this type of contraception and strokes has been debated for decades, and numerous studies provide often conflicting results. For every one hundred thousand women, there are approximately 4,4 ischemic strokes. A meta-analysis in a new study found that hormonal contraceptives increased the chance of stroke by 1,9 times, to 8,5 per 100 women (a meta-analysis is an analysis that combines the results of other studies). This risk can still be considered small – only 1 additional case for every 25 women taking birth control pills.
However, for women who smoke, women with hypertension or migraine pain, the risk of stroke with oral contraceptives is significantly higher.
“When prescribing oral contraceptives, doctors must weigh the risks and benefits of using them on a case-by-case basis,” says senior study author Dr. Jos Biller. … But if a woman is exposed to associated risk factors, she should not take them. ”
The 30-year-old woman was one of two whose medical histories were described in the study report. From the age of 15, she suffered from migraines, which increases the chance of a stroke. In her case, doctors canceled oral contraceptives and prescribed migraine treatment. The authors also described the case of a 27-year-old woman who suffered from severe headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness while taking oral contraceptives. She stopped taking them and underwent blood thinning treatment for six months. During her subsequent visit to the doctor, the patient noted a significant improvement in her condition. Exactly how oral contraceptives cause stroke is not yet fully understood. Experts attribute this to either an increased risk of blood clots or an increase in blood pressure – side effects of taking oral contraceptives.