According to a study conducted from 2015 to 2017, 65% of women aged 15-49 use birth control. One of the most common methods used among these women was the birth control pill. However, the risks that accompany the pill (and many other methods of birth control) are not talked about enough. Planned Parenthood says side effects include bleeding between pills, sore breasts, nausea, headaches, and changes in your cycle. A more rare and serious side effect of the pill is blood clots.
The Cleveland Clinic says the pill can increase your risk of blood clots two to four times. Increased estrogen, as a result of taking the pill, can cause deep vein thrombosis (a type of blood clot). Deep vein thrombosis is when a blood clot forms in a thick vein in the body. Deep vein thrombosis can lead to a fatal pulmonary embolism or damage to your veins.
Birth control has been helpful for many people. For some, it can cause lighter periods, lighter cramps, reduced acne, prevention of pregnancy, relief for endometriosis, anemia, and PCOS, and a lower risk for some cancers. However, the decision to start taking it should come in conjunction with an assessment of the risks.
The danger of blood clots has become a national conversation with Hailey Baldwin’s recent hospitalization for one. While the cause of her blood clot is not known and has not been cited to be birth control, women who use birth control should be aware that the medication they are taking can lead to the same outcome. Hailey was experiencing stroke-like symptoms due to a blood clot that kept oxygen from reaching her brain. Hailey is doing well after the blood clot passed on its own.
This article is not to scare you, it is meant to help you make an informed decision. The risk of blood clots from birth control is rare, but it does happen and can lead to permanent damage to your body. You can take birth control without worrying about blood clots. Non-hormonal options such as the copper IUD do not come with an increased risk of blood clots (however the copper IUD does have its own risks). The best way to decide is to do your own research and then discuss it with your doctor. Some great websites for doing your own research include :
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm
https://www.bedsider.org/birth-control
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/birth-control