There are numerous blood management strategies. They will help to stop being pregnant, but additionally have some unintended effects. As one of many unintended effects, contraception could trigger blood clots.
When you have an energetic intercourse life and don’t desire a child anytime quickly, it will likely be pure so that you can use contraception strategies. Popping contraception capsules or utilizing a barrier methodology like condoms and diaphragms will help forestall being pregnant. Utilizing contraception strategies might also include unintended effects like breast tenderness, complications, bloating, and belly cramps, in addition to enhance the danger of blood clots. Whereas contraception inflicting blood clots just isn’t a quite common aspect impact, one can’t rule out the possibilities. Nevertheless, not all contraception strategies could result in blood clots.
What are the contraception strategies out there?
There are numerous contraception strategies, which will be broadly categorised into the next sorts:
1. Hormonal strategies
These embody contraception capsules, patches, vaginal rings, injections, and hormonal intrauterine gadget or IUD. “They work by altering hormone ranges to stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and skinny the uterine lining,” explains gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Vinatha Puli. There are additionally copper IUDs that forestall sperm from fertilising the egg with out utilizing hormones.
2. Barrier strategies
These embody male in addition to feminine condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges. Such a contraceptive methodology bodily blocks sperm from reaching the egg to stop being pregnant.
3. Everlasting strategies
These embody surgical procedures like tubal ligation, generally referred to as “getting your tubes tied”, for ladies, and vasectomy for males. “These strategies are thought of everlasting and are often irreversible,” says the knowledgeable.
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4. Emergency contraception
These strategies embody emergency contraceptive capsules or morning-after capsules, and copper IUDs. They’re meant for utilizing after having unprotected intercourse to stop being pregnant.
Does contraception trigger blood clots?
Blood clots are clumps of blood that appear like gel. They get fashioned after somebody will get a lower or an harm. The clots, which get fashioned inside an injured blood vessel, assist cease the bleeding and heal the physique. However a few of them attain the veins and don’t dissolve naturally. Deep vein thrombosis or DVT is a blood clot in a vein, often in an individual’s leg, and will be harmful, as per the UK’s Nationwide Well being Service.
A clot within the vessels can take blood into an individual’s lungs, referred to as a pulmonary embolism. It may be deadly as it will probably cease blood from attending to the lungs. The incidence of pulmonary embolism ranges between 39 and 115 per 100,000 inhabitants in a yr, in keeping with a analysis printed in StatPearls in February 2024.
A blood clot impacts about 1 in 1,000 individuals who use mixed hormonal contraception, which accommodates oestrogen and progestogen, as per the NHS. “Hormonal contraception strategies, particularly those which have estrogen, are related to an elevated threat of blood clots,” says Dr Puli. These embody:
- Mixture contraception capsules, which have each the progestin and estrogen hormones.
- Contraceptive patches, which launch estrogen and progestin by way of the pores and skin.
- Vaginal rings such because the NuvaRing, which releases a mixture of estrogen and progestin.
Contraception strategies with solely progestin don’t enhance the danger of blood clots, as per analysis printed within the Haematologica journal in 2016. “Estrogen will increase the degrees of sure proteins within the blood that promote clotting,” says Dr Puli. Hormonal contraception may also result in adjustments within the blood vessels’ lining, which makes it simpler for blood clots to get fashioned.
What are the indicators of contraception inflicting blood clots?
Blood clots will be life-threatening, so it’s essential to recognise the indicators early. Frequent indicators of contraception inflicting blood clots are:
- Swelling often in a single leg, which can additionally really feel heat or tender.
- Sudden or extreme ache within the leg, usually within the calf.
- Purple or discoloured pores and skin, notably on the affected leg.
- Sudden or unexplained problem in respiration.
- Sharp ache within the chest which will worsen whereas respiration deeply.
- Unexplained coughing, typically with blood.
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting.
Easy methods to forestall blood clots because of contraception?
To scale back the danger of blood clots whereas utilizing hormonal contraception, do the next:
- Ask your physician about contraception strategies with decrease estrogen ranges or progestin-only choices.
- Preserve a wholesome weight, and keep bodily energetic to cut back general clotting threat.
- Drink loads of water to maintain your blood flowing easily within the physique.
- When you have a household historical past of blood clots, or different threat elements reminiscent of weight problems, focus on them together with your physician.
What to do if contraception causes blood clots?
Should you suspect that you’ve got a blood clot because of contraception, go to a hospital in the event you expertise any signs of blood clot. Additionally, cease utilizing the hormonal contraception. “A health care provider gives you anticoagulant or blood-thinning drugs to assist forestall the clot from rising and cut back the danger of latest ones forming,” says the knowledgeable.
Contraception strategies will help to stop undesirable being pregnant, however there are unintended effects like blood clots. Know the dangers and indicators of blood clots whereas utilizing hormonal contraception, and focus on your private threat elements together with your physician earlier than beginning any contraception methodology.
