Can oral contraceptive pills lead to heart problems in women?

Heart attack or an unwanted pregnancy what would you prefer?

By: Debjani Arora | | Updated: May 12, 2017 4:02 pm

Tags: Contraceptive pills Woman's health

Contraceptive pills surely have their pros; they are an efficient and easy way to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, there are studies that suggest they might backfire and lead to problems like high blood pressure and put a woman up for cardiovascular risks. While we often hear of other side effects of contraceptive pills like nausea, headaches and weight gain little is spoken about the effects the pill has on women s health status. But the debate if they lead to heart ailments in women is a longstanding one. Also Read - Women and dental health: Looking after your teeth through the years

Also Read - 3 Natural birth control methods to prevent unwanted pregnancy during lockdown

The link between contraceptives and heart health Also Read - Not ready for a baby? 6 ways to prevent unintended pregnancy

Most believe that continuous use of oral contraceptive pills could lead to high blood pressure, up the risk of heart attack and stroke in women. However, it is not the pill alone that is the culprit. Certain risk factors like, obesity, predisposed heart condition, smoking, etc, along with consumption of oral contraceptive could be bad for women s heart health, especially if one is taking the combination pills, which contains both estrogen and progesterone. However, there is very limited data or study to support this belief. There are no immediate ill-effects of using contraceptive pills on a women heart health. However, continuous usage, like say, popping it every day for more than five years could pose a problem in some women, says Dr Meghana Sarvaiya, Consultant Gynaecologist and obstetrician, Cloudnine Hospital, Mumbai.

However, there is evidence that for women over 35 years of age who are on contraceptive pills could develop blood clots which could increase the risk of stroke or ischemic heart attack, says Dr Sarvaiya. In fact, a study published in 2015 also pointed out that blood clotting in women who took contraceptive pills was 1.6 times greater than those who did consume pills. Also, the risk of women who consumed pills with higher estrogen levels had twice the risk of developing a clot. The study concluded that pills with a lesser amount of estrogen in them could be a safe bet. However, before popping a contraceptive pill, it is always better to have a discussion with your doctor on what kind of pill is suitable for you.

To prevent any clotting or complication for women in their late 30s blood thinners are prescribed to them along with contraceptives. This is crucial as most women prefer to be on contraceptives till they hit menopause or till 45 years of age, says Dr Sarvaiya.

What you should do

Talk to your doctor if you have any heart problem before taking contraceptive pills.
Along with consumption of pills, try to maintain your weight within the required BMI range and be regular with diet and exercise.
In the case of any symptoms that could be indicative of a heart problem like panting, sweating, fatigue take serious note of it and talk to your doctor.

Reference:

Roach, R. E., Helmerhorst, F. M., Lijfering, W. M., Stijnen, T., Algra, A., & Dekkers, O. M. (2015). Combined oral contraceptives: the risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The Cochrane Library.

Image source: Shutterstock

Read this in Marathi and Hindi

Published : April 20, 2017 5:38 pm | Updated:May 12, 2017 4:02 pm

Read Disclaimer