Scientists from New York University in Brooklyn found that the combination of some birth control pills and painkillers (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may increase the risk of blood clots in women. The research was published in the journal BMJ.
More than 2 million Danish women aged 15 to 49 participated in the study. An analysis of her medical data found that using the estrogen-containing pill or other birth control increased the risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs. From 1996 to 2017, more than 8,700 women developed blood clots in their leg vein or lung.
Additionally, the risk of blood clots was further increased if women also took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are common painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
The authors emphasized that despite the increase in the relative risk of blood clots, the absolute risk remains low.
Women taking hormonal birth control should not worry about using NSAIDs for short periods of time. Additionally, the risk of blood clots during birth control is much lower than during pregnancy or for several months after birth.
However, any woman concerned about blood clots may consider using low-risk birth control, such as an intrauterine device or the progestin-only pill. This may be recommended for women who must frequently take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs due to chronic pain. When choosing a birth control method, you should also consider blood clot risk factors, such as smoking or a history of blood clots.
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