According to the World Health Organization, 248 million women use hormonal contraception worldwide. In the United States, almost a million women use the vaginal ring and the contraceptive patch.
A recent study published in the BMJ analyzed the association between hormonal contraceptive use and the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.
The authors included data from two million women aged 15 to 49 living in Denmark. They compared medical records of women who had been prescribed hormonal contraception, including combined oral contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, hormonal intrauterine devices, contraceptive implants, injections, patches, and vaginal rings with non-users of hormonal contraception
In the results, they reported 4730 ischemic strokes and 2072 myocardial infarctions that occurred between 1996 and 2021.
The users of combined oral contraceptive pills had a two-fold increased risk of heart attack and stroke compared to non-users. Users of progestin-only contraceptives such as the intrauterine device and implants had an increased risk but lower than the risk of users of combined hormonal contraceptive pills.
A higher risk of arterial thrombotic events was also observed with the use of the vaginal ring. Compared to non-users of contraception, vaginal ring users had a rate ratio of 2.4 for ischemic stroke and 3.8 for myocardial infarction. Additionally, the contraceptive patch, which contains synthetic estrogen and progestins, appeared to carry a 3.4-fold increased risk of stroke.
The use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device was not associated with stroke or myocardial infarction.
The authors of the study concluded that users of hormonal contraception that contain synthetic estrogen-progestin and progestin-only contraceptives experienced an increased risk of ischemic stroke and, in some cases, myocardial infarction. The absolute risks were low but informed consent is necessary to alert women of these serious side effects that can result in increased mobility and mortality of women in reproductive age.
The potential risk of arterial thrombosis can be avoided by the screening of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the use of natural family planning a non-hormonal method morally acceptable and healthier than hormonal contraception.
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Use of Vaginal ring and the implant and the risk of heart attack and stroke
According to the World Health Organization, 248 million women use hormonal contraception worldwide. In the United States, almost a million women use the vaginal ring and the contraceptive patch.
A recent study published in the BMJ analyzed the association between hormonal contraceptive use and the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke.
The authors included data from two million women aged 15 to 49 living in Denmark. They compared medical records of women who had been prescribed hormonal contraception, including combined oral contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, hormonal intrauterine devices, contraceptive implants, injections, patches, and vaginal rings with non-users of hormonal contraception
In the results, they reported 4730 ischemic strokes and 2072 myocardial infarctions that occurred between 1996 and 2021.
The users of combined oral contraceptive pills had a two-fold increased risk of heart attack and stroke compared to non-users. Users of progestin-only contraceptives such as the intrauterine device and implants had an increased risk but lower than the risk of users of combined hormonal contraceptive pills.
A higher risk of arterial thrombotic events was also observed with the use of the vaginal ring. Compared to non-users of contraception, vaginal ring users had a rate ratio of 2.4 for ischemic stroke and 3.8 for myocardial infarction. Additionally, the contraceptive patch, which contains synthetic estrogen and progestins, appeared to carry a 3.4-fold increased risk of stroke.
The use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device was not associated with stroke or myocardial infarction.
The authors of the study concluded that users of hormonal contraception that contain synthetic estrogen-progestin and progestin-only contraceptives experienced an increased risk of ischemic stroke and, in some cases, myocardial infarction. The absolute risks were low but informed consent is necessary to alert women of these serious side effects that can result in increased mobility and mortality of women in reproductive age.
The potential risk of arterial thrombosis can be avoided by the screening of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the use of natural family planning a non-hormonal method morally acceptable and healthier than hormonal contraception.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 24th, 2025 at 8:04 pm and is filed under News & Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.