Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Newer birth control pills raise blood clot risks

First Published:

[projekktor id=’19226′]

A new study shows newer pills carry a higher risk of clotting than older versions.

The study looked at women who’d had deep vein thrombosis, or a clot, and women who hadn’t.

Then they compared the types of birth control the women had taken. Newer pills were associated with an increased risk of clotting, but experts say this information shouldn’t scare people away from taking the pill.

In a UK study of thousands of women, those taking new generations of birth control, like Yaz, were about one and a half times more likely to have a blood clot than women taking older types.

Women who aren’t on birth control have a four in 10,000 chance of getting a clot.

According to the study, women on older varieties have a 10 in 10,000 chance. On newer pills that rises to about 16 in 10,000.

According to Dr. Dustin Costescu, the difference in the pills is the progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone.

This study suggests they may also carry a greater clotting risk.

In rare cases, the hormones in birth control can cause blood to thicken, forming clots. In even rarer cases, those clots can be deadly.

Smoking, obesity and family history of blood clots are more accurate predictors of clotting than whether someone is taking the pill.

So in pregnancy the risk of a clot during or post pregnancy is higher than when on the pill.

But if someone is worried about clotting, Costescu says to use the birth control method they’re most comfortable with.

Dr. Costescu also says you’re more at risk of clotting when you first start taking the pill, meaning you’re better off staying on it long term than stopping and starting.

More Top News

Hamilton city council votes in favour of LRT being privately operated

Hamilton city council's long-awaited decision on the public versus private operation of the LRT has finally been determined. After years of discussion and delay, this...

Forensic detective describes what he found at scene of Stoney Creek murder

It was another day of intense testimony at the Oliver Karafa and Lucy Li murder trial, as a forensic detective walked the court through...

Evening weather forecast for April 17, 2024

Steve Ruddick shares the forecast for April 17, 2024 and the days ahead.

Speed enforcement camera in Vineland vandalized again

A speed enforcement camera unit was vandalized in Lincoln again Tuesday night, shortly after crews finished repairing it from a previous act of vandalism. The...

Newsmakers: Queen’s Park Observer’s Sabrina Nanji

VIDEO: On this episode of Newsmakers, host Louie Butko was joined by founder of the Queen's Park Observer Sabrina Nanji to recap a busy...

Sportsline: RBC Canadian Open tournament director Bryan Crawford

VIDEO: RBC Canadian Open tournament director Bryan Crawford joined host Bubba O'Neil on this Sportsline Podcast. In addition to an accomplished CFL career, the Hamiltonian...

Fundraiser in St. George raising money to #EndBrainTumours

There's a special fundraiser coming up next month in St. George to raise money for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer Research. Organizers Leslie Hendrickson and Fiona...