The use of contraceptives can increase the risk of developing venous thrombosis, which is the formation of a clot inside a vein, partially obstructing or completely blocking blood flow.
Any hormonal contraceptive, whether in the form of pills, injections, implants or patches, can have this side effect as they contain a combination of hormones estrogen and progesterone, which by preventing pregnancy also end up interfering with blood clotting mechanisms, facilitating formation. Clots.
- However.
- It should be remembered that the risk of thrombosis remains very low.
- And that it is much more likely to occur from other causes.
- Such as smoking.
- Conditions that hinder clotting or after a period of immobilization.
- Due to surgery or a long journey.
- For example.
The most common form of thrombosis in women who use contraceptives is deep vein thrombosis, which occurs in the legs and usually causes symptoms such as:
Other forms of thrombosis, which are rarer and more severe, include pulmonary embolism, which causes severe shortness of breath, rapid breathing and chest pain, or cerebral thrombosis, which causes stroke-like symptoms, with loss of strength on one side of the body. difficulty speaking.
Learn more about each type of thrombosis and its symptoms
If you suspect thrombosis, you should go to the hospital immediately. Your doctor may order tests, such as ultrasound, Doppler, CT and blood tests. However, no evidence confirms that venous thrombosis was caused by contraceptive use. Therefore, this suspicion is confirmed when no other more likely causes of thrombosis have been found, such as long journeys, after surgery, smoking or hemorrhagic diseases, for example.
The risk of developing thrombosis is proportional to the values of estrogenic hormones in the formula, therefore contraceptives containing more than 50 mcg of oestradiol are more likely to develop this type of effect, and it is recommended to use, as far as possible, those containing 20 to 30 mcg of this substance.
See other common side effects of the birth control pill and what to do.
Despite the increased chances, the chances of developing thrombosis through contraceptive use remain low, unless the woman has other risk factors that, combined with the use of pills, may increase this risk.
Situations that increase the risk of thrombosis, avoiding the use of contraceptives, are:
Therefore, each time a woman starts using a contraceptive, it is recommended that she undergo a pre-evaluation by the gynecologist, who can do the clinical assessment, physical examination and ask for tests to make it difficult to avoid complications.