Blood clots, stroke after long-term use of birth control pills, who is at high risk and should avoid?

Recently, some hospitals have received emergency treatment for many people who have suffered from thrombosis (blood clots) and stroke due to prolonged use of birth control pills.

Using birth control pills requires advice from a medical professional - Photo: Reuters

Contraceptive pills are often used by women to avoid unwanted pregnancies. These pills are convenient and highly effective, but they pose many potential health risks if not used properly.

Stroke after long-term use of oral contraceptives

Ms. NT (35 years old, Phu Tho province) came to the hospital with her entire left leg swollen and painful. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis in the lower limbs. In addition, ultrasound and CT scan results showed that there were many blood clots in both lower limbs and she was transferred to the cardiology department for treatment.

Through medical history, it is known that Ms. T. has been using birth control pills continuously for the past 5 years.

Doctors say that long-term use of birth control pills leads to side effects such as blood clots, which are life-threatening.

If not detected promptly, this condition can cause many unpredictable complications, the most dangerous of which is pulmonary embolism. In addition, the patient may have skin ulcers in the area below the thrombosed vein, leg pain, affecting daily activities...

Recently, Bach Mai Hospital and 108 Military Central Hospital also received a case of a female patient who was hospitalized with a stroke due to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. This is a dangerous but easily overlooked disease, especially in women of reproductive age who have used oral contraceptives for a long time.

Ms. TM (36 years old, Lang Son province) was hospitalized in a state of impaired consciousness, convulsions, deep coma, and quadriplegia...

Before that, she only had a headache and was still doing her daily activities normally. At the 108 Military Central Hospital, after a CT scan of her brain, doctors diagnosed Ms. M. with a massive brain hemorrhage due to a venous sinus thrombosis.

According to doctors, Ms. M. was using birth control pills daily for a long time and this could be the cause of blood clots in the veins and lead to a stroke.

There was also a case of early onset of the disease, hospitalized at the Stroke Center of Bach Mai Hospital. Doctors took a medical history and recorded that the 33-year-old female patient had been using birth control pills for about 3 months.

The patient was admitted to the hospital with severe headache and convulsions. Imaging results showed that the patient had cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with hemorrhage.

Despite active treatment with anticoagulants and anticonvulsants, the patient was left with mild paralysis on one side of his body and needed a long time to recover.

It is alarming that many women are now using birth control pills to treat acne, or abusing emergency contraceptive pills. Not long ago, the 108 Military Central Hospital also received a 34-year-old female patient in an unconscious state, having difficulty breathing.

The patient had bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism. Previously, she had been using Levonorgestrel birth control pills for 10 years, usually taking 12-15 Levonorgestrel pills per month.

Commonly used contraceptive methods today - Photo: BVCC

Who is at high risk?

Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Thanh - Head of the Department of Specialist Examination, Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital - said that daily birth control pills usually contain female sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which work by preventing ovulation, preventing sperm from swimming towards the uterus for fertilization, and changing the uterine wall so that the egg cannot implant.

"This is considered a fairly safe method of contraception. Not all women who use birth control pills develop venous thrombosis. However, abusing birth control pills can increase the risk of blood clots causing stroke or heart attack.

The rate of venous thromboembolism in women of childbearing age is 1/10,000. The risk of thrombosis increases in people such as older women, over 35 years old; people with a family history of thrombosis or who smoke; overweight, obese, sedentary lifestyle, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure...", Dr. Thanh clearly stated.

Doctor Nguyen Hai Linh - Department of Cerebral Stroke, Institute of Neurology, 108 Central Military Hospital - said that for people with the Factor V Leiden gene mutation, the risk of blood clots when using birth control pills can increase 20-30 times. This will lead to the risk of blood clots forming in the venous system, including the cerebral veins.

"In addition to oral contraceptives, other hormonal contraceptives used by injection or contraceptive patches containing estrogen can also cause blood clots to form in the veins," said Dr. Linh.

Experts recommend that these cases need to be especially careful when using birth control pills. If you intend to use birth control pills or are using birth control pills, you should see a specialist for examination, necessary tests and advice on how to use them safely and effectively. Do not use or prolong the time of taking the pills without a doctor's prescription.

Signs to watch out for when using birth control pills

Doctor Dinh Trung Hieu - Stroke Center, Bach Mai Hospital - recommends that during use, if you see any unusual symptoms such as increasing headaches, increased pain at night, pain relievers not helping, especially if you have unusual muscle spasms or loss of consciousness, you should go to a medical facility immediately.

In addition, during the examination, pay attention to providing complete information about the type of medication and the time of use. "Contraceptive pills are a useful tool, but they need to be used properly to avoid complications, do not turn them into a "time bomb".

Women need to have regular health check-ups and consult a doctor before taking birth control pills, especially if they have risk factors. In addition, screening for gene mutations can be done if there is a family history of blood clotting disorders.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle, drink enough water and avoid fasting when using birth control pills. Birth control pills are only truly safe when used properly and under the supervision of a doctor," Dr. Hieu emphasized.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/huyet-khoi-dot-quy-sau-uong-thuoc-tranh-thai-keo-dai-ai-nguy-co-cao-can-tranh-20250424081001859.htm