Prognosis
The prognosis of venous thrombosis with the Pill is generally good if the thrombosis is detected in time. As long as a pulmonary embolism has not yet occurred, i.e. the blood clot has not been flushed into the lungs, thromboses can usually be treated well. If a pulmonary embolism has occurred, timely treatment is also important in order to be able to help the woman adequately.
In women with risk factors for thrombosis, follow-up care and adjustment to anticoagulant medication are particularly important in order to prevent the further occurrence of blood clots. If a thrombosis develops while taking the pill which cannot be explained by factors other than the pill itself, for example a long flight with little exercise, it is advisable to stop taking the pill. Otherwise it is not unlikely that such a thrombosis will occur again.
There are other forms of contraception that have a significantly lower risk of thrombosis, such as the coil. This releases hormones locally at the uterus, only a small amount of which enters the bloodstream and therefore causes only a very low or no increased risk of thrombosis. Even among the pills themselves, it is possible to switch to a preparation with a lower risk of thrombosis if the thrombosis was caused by a preparation with a high risk of thrombosis.
Morning-after pill
The risk of thrombosis from the morning-after pill is rather low.Although these are also female sex hormones, which are administered in high doses, the single dose means that the period of administration is too short for relevant effects on blood clotting to be expected. In principle, however, it is possible for the morning-after pill to cause a thrombosis. The probability is currently given as 1:5.
000. 000. Women who already have an increased risk of thrombosis are particularly at risk, which is why the emergency contraceptive pill is not recommended for these women.
Flight
The pill influences blood clotting and can promote the development of thromboses. Long journeys by plane, where the woman sits a lot and cannot move her legs sufficiently, also increase the risk of thrombosis, as the blood in the legs becomes engorged and the flow rate decreases. This makes it easier for the blood to clump together and form clots in the leg veins (leg vein thrombosis).
The combination of the pill and air travel can also make it easier for a thrombosis to form. Women who have an increased risk of thrombosis and are taking the pill should be prescribed thrombosis injections before a long journey and should sit down before starting the journey. This considerably reduces the risk of suffering a thrombosis.
Women who do not have an increased risk of thrombosis do not need thrombosis injections before travelling. It is sufficient to ensure that the legs are moved regularly during the trip. Getting up from time to time or moving your feet up and down while sitting down is usually sufficient.