New Study Adds To Evidence of Stroke and Heart Attack Risk with Some Hormonal Contraceptives

Certain hormonal contraceptives are associated with a Higher Stroke and Heart Attack Risk, Finds a Large Study From Denmark In The BMJ That draws on prescription records to Give More Precise Estimates for Different Products Than Previous Studies.

The Highest Risk Estimates were for estrogen-containing products, in private the vaginal ring and skin patch.

The Researchers Stress That the Absolute Risk Remains Low, But Givenpread Use of These Products and the Seriousness of These Conditions, They Say Clinicians Should Consider these Potential Risks When Prescription Them.

ALMOST 250 Million Women Worldwide Are Estimated to Use Hormonal Contract. PREVIOUS STUDIES HAVE SUGGESSE A POTENTIAL INCREARISED RISK OF ISCHEMIC STROKE AND HEART ATTACK WITHIR USE, But Findings Have Been Inconsistent.

There is also Lack of Evidence on the Effects of Different Hormone Combinations, How they are Taken (EG, Pills, Implants, Injections, Vaginal Rings Or Skin Patches), and for How Long.

To Fill This Knowledge Gap, Researchers Tracked National Prescription Records for More Than Million Danish AGED 15–49 from 1996 to Find Out IF Using Hormonal Contraceptives Increased The Risk of First-Time Ischemic Stroke And Heart Attack Compreed with no if .

The Different Types of Contract They Included Were Combined Estrogestin Pills, Vaginal Rings, Patches, Progestin-Only Pills, Intrauterine Devices, Subcutaneous Implants, and Intramuscular Injections.

Women Were Excluded if they have Had a History of Blood Clots, Cancer, Liver Disease, Kidney Disease, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Endometriosis or Infertility Treatment, Used Psychiatric Medication, Hermonal Therapy, Or Had Undergone A Hystrectomy.

Cases of Ischemic Stroke and Heart Attack Were Recorded and Other Potentially Influential Factors Such As Age, Education Level, and Existing Conditions Such As High Blood Pressure and Diabetes Were Taken Into Account.

Hormonal Used Used Contraceptive-The combined estrogen-progestin pill-was associated with double the risk of ischemic stroke and heart Attack, Which Translats to One Extroke for Every 4,760 Women Using the Combined Pill for One Year, and One Extra Heart Attack for Every 10,000 Women per year of use.

Progestin-Only Contraceptives, Including Pills and Implants, Carried a Slightly Elevated Risk, Thought Lower Than The Combined Pills. Non-oral Combined Contraceptives, Such AS The Vaginal Ring and Patch, Had Higher Associated Risks, with the Vaginal Ring Increasing Ischemic Risk 2.4-Fold and Heart Attack Risk 3.8-Fold, While the Patch Increeiled ISCHEMIC RISK 3.4-Fold.

The Progestin-Only Intrauterine System was the only hormonal contraceptive not linked to an increeded risk, making this option safer for cardiovascular health. Duration of Use Did Not Seem to Influence The Risk.

This is an observational Study so in the firm conclusions can be drawn about causes and effect, and the researchers canut out the possibility that other unmeasred factors may have affected their results.

However, this Was a Nationwide Study Using High Quality Registry Data That Allowed for Detailed Tracking of Hormonal Contraceptive Use, and Results Were Consistency Further Analysis, Suggesting That They are robust.

SUCH, THEY, “ALTHUNTUGH ABSOLUTE RISKS WER LOW, CLINICIANS SHOULD INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL RISK OF ARTERIAL THROMBISE IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE BENEFITS AND RISKS WHEN PRESCRIBING HORMONAL CONTACTACEPTIVE METHOD.”

These dissees are rare, specially in Young Women, Notes Therese Johansson at the Swedish Institute of Technology in a Linked Editorial. NETHELESS, These Side Effects Are Serious and Given That Approximately 248 Million Women Use Hormonal Contraceptives Daily, The Results Carry Important Implications.

She calls for educational campaignns to help women make informed choiices, allongside training for health carers to ensure consistent and evidence-bassed counseling.

Polycy Makers Should Also Prioritize Making Safer Alternatives for Women With Cardiovascular Risk Factors Both affordable and Accessible, privately in low resource settings, Where Cardiovascular Risks are frequently underdiagnosed and UNTREATED, she adds.