Venous thromboembolism and oral contraception

Author

Veljkovi? M, Popov? J

Dom zdravlja Nis, Organizaciona jedinica za zdravstvenu zastitu zena. milicaveljkovic@gmail.com

Resource

Med Pregl 2010 May-Jun; 63(5-6): 376-9.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
Because of their safety and efficacy oral contraceptives are available without prescription in many countries. Monophasic combined oral contraceptives are a combination of estrogen and progestin taken in constant amounts.

VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM:
Combined oral contraceptives slightly increase the risk of venous thromboemolism, but this event is very rare among non-pregnant women of reproductive age. The absolute risk rises with age, obesity, recent surgery and certain forms of thrombophilia. The estrogen component of combined oral contraceptives increases the synthesis of several coagulation factors in a dose-dependent manner. Changes of most of these parameters are very small and there is no evidence that they have any effect upon the clinical risk of developing venous thrombosis. If a woman has an inherited coagulation disorder that increases her risk of developing thrombosis, the risk is increased several fold if she ingests estrogen containing oral contraception.

CONCLUSION:
The increased risk of venous thromboembolism associated with combined oral contraceptives should have little impact on healthy women, but may have substantial impact on women with a history of thromboembolism. Combined oral contraceptive use increases the risk of venous thromboembolosm in a dose-dependent manner. The absolute risk of venous thromboembolism rises with age, obesity, recent surgery and certain forms of thrombophilia, as well.

Major Subject Heading(s)	Minor Subject Heading(s)
>Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal [adverse effects] >Venous Thromboembolism [chemically induced]	>Contraceptives, Oral, Combined [adverse effects] >Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal >Disease Susceptibility >Female >Humans >Risk Factors >Venous Thromboembolism

PMID: 21186550
Publication Type: Journal Article, English Abstract, Review
Citation Subset: IM
Last Modified:  : 2/20/2011

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