Two young girls suffered strokes due to prolonged use of birth control pills

The female patient is being treated intensively at the 108 Military Central Hospital - Photo: BVCC

Stroke due to birth control pill abuse

On April 11, the 108 Military Central Hospital announced that it had just received and successfully treated two young female patients with stroke due to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis - a dangerous but easily overlooked disease, especially in women of reproductive age and those using oral contraceptives for a long time.

The first case is a female patient admitted to the hospital in critical condition.

A few days before being admitted to the hospital, the patient had a headache. Pain medication helped but not much, and he was still able to function normally.

However, the girl later had a severe headache and was taken to the hospital in a state of impaired consciousness, continuous convulsions, deep coma, quadriplegia, and dilated pupils.

Imaging results showed that the patient had a large cerebral hemorrhage with bilateral parietal lobe transformation due to superior sagittal sinus thrombosis and sinus confluence.

The patient was quickly intubated and given active mechanical ventilation, anti-cerebral edema, and anticoagulants. Doctors then performed a craniotomy to relieve compression caused by cerebral edema.

After intensive treatment, the girl is now awake, able to get off the ventilator, communicate and partially active.

The second case was a patient admitted to the hospital because of a persistent headache, progressive weakness in the left side of the body, and difficulty walking for several days.

At the time of admission, the patient was still conscious. The results of the X-ray and screening tests showed that the patient had a right temporal cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of the straight sinus, sigmoid sinus, and left transverse sinus.

The patient was treated medically with anticoagulants according to the protocol and recovered well, discharged from the hospital with the ability to live independently.

Both patients were using oral contraceptives for a long period of time.

Risk of stroke due to long-term use of birth control pills

According to ThS   Nguyen Hai Linh - Stroke Department, 108 Military Central Hospital, according to global statistics, the rate of venous thromboembolism in women using birth control pills is 3-6 times higher than in those who do not use them.

In addition, the risk is higher in women who smoke; are overweight/obese; have a family history of stroke/thrombotic events and hypercoagulable disorders.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis can cause complications of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction or a combination of hemorrhage and cerebral infarction.

Given the risk of venous thromboembolism in women using birth control pills, doctors recommend that women who intend to use the drug should see a specialist for examination, necessary testing, and advice on how to use the drug safely and effectively.

Do not use or prolong the duration of taking medication without professional advice.

In Vietnam, according to a study by Tu Du Hospital and Central Maternity Hospital (2021), nearly 50% of women of childbearing age have used birth control pills, of which nearly 20% have used them continuously for >12 months without regular check-ups.

In addition to using birth control pills, women can consider methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive implants, contraceptive patches, sterilization (for those who no longer want to have children), and condoms (a simple, non-hormonal, dual protection method).

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hai-co-gai-tre-dot-quy-do-su-dung-thuoc-tranh-thai-keo-dai-20250411170307955.htm