Thrombosis and pill
There are numerous factors that increase the risk of developing thrombosis. Especially the combination of different risk factors increases the risk. An important and frequent risk factor for women is the use of oral contraception, the so-called pill.
Oral contraceptives are drugs taken mainly to prevent pregnancy and contain two active ingredients, the hormones estrogen and progestin. Depending on the preparation, the two active ingredients are combined (combined preparation) or only the progestin alone (single substance preparation). Taking oral contraceptives affects hormonal control circuits between the brain, ovaries and uterus, thus preventing the fertilization of an egg.
The estrogen prevents ovulation, while the progestin makes the mucus in the uterus more viscous. The viscous mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to move around. These mechanisms result in the reliable prevention of pregnancy.
Common undesirable side effects of oral contraceptives are nausea, vomiting, weight gain, headaches, skin impurities, hair loss and cycle irregularities. Another important but less common side effect is the occurrence of thrombosis while taking the pill. Oestrogens cause changes in the walls of the blood vessels and slow down the blood flow, and can thus promote the occurrence of thrombosis.To reduce the risk of thrombosis, oral contraceptives with a low estrogen content are therefore recommended.
There are also various progestins, such as levonorgestrel, which, in combination with low-dose estrogen, have a lower risk of thrombosis than other preparations. Particularly in women with other risk factors, such as smoking, overweight, a coagulation disorder or age over 35 years, care should be taken to use a preparation with a favorable side effect profile. Women who have already had a thrombosis in the leg or other thromboembolic diseases, such as pulmonary embolism or stroke, should not use oral contraception. A gynaecologist can provide information on alternative contraceptive methods.
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