Birth Control with Combined Hormones May Raise Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

A major new study out of Denmark suggests that while the risks of heart attack and stroke may be higher in women who use hormonal birth control -- such as Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella pills -- the overall risk of these potentially fatal side effects is quite low for an individual woman.

Researchers at the Copenhagen University Hospital examined information from 1.6 million women ages 15 to 49 from 1995 through 2009. They found that women who used birth control pills that combine low-to-moderate doses of estrogen and various progestins had up to 2.3 times the risk of a stroke or heart attack than non-users.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the type of progestin in the birth control pill did not have much of an effect on the risks. It also noted that vaginal rings - such as the NuvaRing - were linked to a greater risk of stroke but not heart attack.

The researchers noted that the study was limited by possible diagnostic misclassification, the potential for a time lag between the date of prescription and when the birth control was started, as well as the lack of data on smoking status and body mass index, according to Med Page Today.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous birth control pill, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation. A dangerous drug lawyer may be able to help you. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

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