The mixed tablet comprises each oestrogen and progestin. Picture Level Fr/ Shutterstock
Ladies who’re overweight and taking the mixed oral contraceptive tablet have 12 to 24 occasions higher danger of creating a leg-vein blood clot than these not taking the tablet and who usually are not chubby, in accordance with a latest evaluate of analysis. Different research have discovered a decrease however nonetheless elevated danger.
This sort of blood clot, often known as a deep venous thrombosis (DVT), could cause ache, swelling and redness of the affected leg. Normally this ache occurs within the calf or thigh. Fortuitously, most DVTs aren’t deadly – however they’re severe and have to be handled urgently. In a small variety of instances, a part of the clot can break off and journey to the lungs which could be life threatening.
This elevated danger might sound scary, and will even put some ladies off utilizing contraception altogether in the event that they’re chubby. But it surely’s necessary to know the place that danger comes from. And that not all sorts of contraception carry this elevated danger.
The very first thing to know concerning the proof round blood clot danger and contraception is that it solely applies to contraceptive strategies that comprise oestrogen. These are the mixed oral contraceptive tablet, the contraceptive patch and the contraceptive vaginal ring.
That signifies that for all different strategies accessible the proof doesn’t present an elevated danger of creating a clot in wholesome ladies who usually are not overweight and don’t smoke. Smoking may also enhance an individual’s total danger of blood clots, each within the leg and within the blood provide to the center and mind.
The second factor to take a look at is the chance for all ladies of creating a clot, both whereas utilizing contraception or not utilizing it.
Typically, the chance of creating a clot within the leg varies with age. However in younger ladies worldwide, who usually are not utilizing hormonal contraception, round two in each 10,000 will develop a blood clot every year. That is very low.
Contraceptives that don’t comprise oestrogen (such because the copper IUD) don’t carry a further danger of blood clots.
New Africa/ Shutterstock
However the danger of creating a blood clot whereas on the mixed oral tablet is between two and 6 occasions greater than for girls not utilizing the mixed tablet. This works out at about 5 to 12 ladies per 10,000 every year – relying on the kind of mixed tablet. Older tablets containing levonorgestrel have the bottom danger.
The danger of creating a blood clot on the mixed tablet is about the identical as the chance of creating a clot throughout or instantly after being pregnant. The patch and vaginal ring, which each comprise oestrogen, enhance the dangers by about the identical quantity because the mixed oral tablet.
The contraceptive injection appears additionally to extend the chance by a small quantity – however this danger remains to be lower than oestrogen-containing contraception strategies.
Weight problems and DVT
Being chubby will increase everybody’s probability of creating a DVT, and this appears to be particularly the case in ladies. People who find themselves thought-about overweight (a BMI of over 30) are at a few three to 5 occasions higher danger of getting a venous clot than those that have a wholesome BMI.
There are two causes that weight problems will increase danger of DVT. People who find themselves overweight have extra belly fats, which may sluggish the velocity of blood circulation travelling from the legs and thru the stomach. This will increase the prospect of blood clotting.
Weight problems additionally appears to trigger low-grade irritation within the physique, which can make it simpler for clots to type and may make them much less more likely to be dissolved naturally.
Oestrogen has the same impact to extra weight, additionally making the blood extra more likely to type clots and fewer more likely to dissolve small clots once they occur. That is why weight problems can put ladies taking oestrogen-containing contraceptives at even higher danger of DVT.
To decrease your danger of a blood clot usually, it’s greatest to take care of as wholesome a weight as attainable, to keep away from smoking and control your blood strain. Since each weight problems and oestrogen can enhance the probability of a blood clot within the leg, it’s not shocking the mix of those two components will increase blood clot danger considerably.
In case you are apprehensive about your danger of a blood clot, that doesn’t imply you may’t use contraception. There are nonetheless many secure contraceptives you may select from which don’t comprise oestrogen, and subsequently don’t enhance danger of a clot. This consists of condoms, the copper IUD (which comprises no hormones) or the progesterone-only tablet, intrauterine system or implant (which solely comprise progestogen).
Susan Walker has receives funding from Bayer and NaturalCycles..
