- Which contraceptives can cause thrombosis
- What signs to watch out for
- What to do in case of suspicion
- Why contraceptives can cause thrombosis
- Who should not use contraceptives
The use of contraceptives can increase the chances of developing a venous thrombosis, which is the formation of a clot inside a vein, partially or totally obstructing the blood flow.
However, it should be remembered that the risk of thrombosis remains small, and it is much more likely to happen for other causes, such as smoking, diseases that alter clotting or after a period of immobilization, due to surgery or a long trip, for example.
Any hormonal contraceptive, whether in pill form, injections, implants or patches, cause this effect because they contain the association of hormones estrogen and progesterone, which in preventing pregnancy, also end up interfering with the clotting mechanisms, making it easier.
Which contraceptives can cause thrombosis
The risk of developing thrombosis is proportional to the values of the estrogen hormone in the formula, so contraceptives with more than 50 mcg of estradiol are the ones that cause the greatest chance of developing this type of alteration, and it is recommended to use those that contain 20 to 30 mcg of this substance.
Understand other main side effects of the birth control pill and how they happen.
What signs to watch out for
The most common form of thrombosis is deep vein thrombosis in the legs, which can cause symptoms such as:
- Swelling of only one of the legs; Redness of the affected leg; Dilated veins in the leg; Increased local temperature; Pain or heaviness in the area; Thickening of the skin.
Other forms of thrombosis, which are rarer and more severe, include pulmonary embolism, which causes shortness of breath, rapid breathing and chest pain, or cerebral thrombosis, which causes stroke-like symptoms. Find out more details about each type of thrombosis and its risks.
What to do in case of suspicion
When thrombosis is suspected, you should immediately go to the hospital. The doctor may order tests, such as ultrasound, doppler, tomography and blood tests. However, there is no test that confirms that venous thrombosis was caused by the use of contraceptives, therefore, this suspicion is confirmed when other more probable causes for thrombosis were not found, such as a prolonged trip, after surgery, smoking or coagulation diseases, for example.
Why contraceptives can cause thrombosis
The use of oral contraceptives increases the risk by 3 to 6 times of developing a venous thrombosis, however, it is important to keep in mind that this risk is still low, because in pregnancy, for example, this risk is about 200 times higher. This risk is likely to be high due to its ability to cause increased levels of coagulating factors and a reduction in blood anticoagulant factors.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the benefits of using contraceptives still outweigh its benefits, as in addition to preventing against an unwanted pregnancy, this medication can also prevent the onset of acne, reduce PMS and menstrual cramps, regulate the cycle menstrual cycle, in addition to reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Who should not use contraceptives
Despite the increased possibilities, the chances of developing a thrombosis through the use of contraceptives remain small, unless the woman has other risk factors, which combined with the use of the pill, can leave this risk elevated.
The situations that increase the risk of thrombosis, avoiding the use of contraceptives, are:
- Smoking; Age over 35 years; History of thrombosis in the family; Frequent migraine; Obesity; Diabetes.
Therefore, whenever a woman is going to start using a contraceptive, it is recommended to undergo an evaluation by the gynecologist beforehand, who will be able to make the clinical evaluation, physical examination, and request tests to make the possibility of complications more difficult.
