Thrombotic Stroke and Myocardial Infarction with Hormonal Contraception — NEJM

Excerpt from the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine:

In conclusion, women who used oral contraceptives with ethinyl estradiol at a dose of 30 to 40 μg had a risk of arterial thrombosis that was 1.3 to 2.3 times as high as the risk among non- users, and women who used pills with ethinyl estradiol at a dose of 20 μg had a risk that was 0.9 to 1.7 times as high, with only small differences according to progestin type. We estimate that among 10,000 women who use desogestrel with ethinyl estradiol at a dose of 20 μg for 1 year, 2 will have arterial thrombosis and 6.8 women taking the same product will have venous thrombosis. Although venous thrombosis is three to four times as frequent as arterial thrombosis among young women, the latter is associated with higher mortality and more serious consequences for the survivors. Therefore, these figures should be taken into account when prescribing hormonal contraception.

Read the full study by clicking on the link below.

New England Journal of Medicine

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