I was on the combination birth control pill for 10 years and the progesterone only or mini pill for 6 months. The reason I switched is because my cousin was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder after being rushed to the emergency room for a stroke at the age of 28. After spending 6 months on the mini pill I couldn't bear the side effects so I got off of it all together.
"In general, about 4.4 ischemic strokes occur for every 100,00 women of reproductive age. The pill doubles the risk of 8.5 strokes her 100,000 according to meta-analysis." They have found that women with elevated levels of amino acid homocysteine while on the pill are also at higher ricks of blood clots within the brain. Other things that increase your chances are high blood pressure, obesity, certain genes, smoking cigarettes, and a history of migraines with auras increase the risk significantly which most women aren't told. I was one of these women (Dr. Brighten, 161).
I had been experiencing migraines with auras since I started my period in the 5th grade. They were extremely painful and my mother always became so worried when I would lose my vision and then see these flashing lights until a migraine set in for hours after that. No doctor ever told me this until I began doing my own research and finally found a doctor that listened to why I didn't want to be on the pill. She listened rather than dismissing me. She agreed that having migraines with auras can be extremely dangerous for those that choose to go on the combination pill.
I have heard several other stories of young women that have had strokes and even died because of blood clots that were caused by the pill. For example, there was a 21-year old women that almost died of a blood clot because of her birth control pill. Another girl named Jamie also experienced a blood clot while on the pill and managed to survive it. There are several stories from all over the world about women that have been impacted by blood clots or strokes because of the pill. Even if your doctor does not bring up the risk it is important to know that there is one and there is a particular gene that can be tested to see if you're chance of having one is even greater. These genes are L Leiden and MTHFR gene mutations.The Risk of Arterial Thromosis in Relation to Oral Contraceptives (TAIO) study concluded that women who had the single copy of the factor V Leiden gene mutation were at an eleven-fold risk for an ischemic stroke compared to those that were not using the pill. Women with a factor V gene taking the pill had a risk as high as thirty-five-fold increase (Dr. Brighten, 162).
It is so important to know this and to know what the risks are of taking the pill. This information is not intended to scare you away from the pill but it is intended to inform you and to ensure that you are taking out the best steps for your health that you can. If you do have mutation but a non-hormonal method of birth control is not what you need, continue to talk to your doctor about something else that doesn't increase your risk of strokes but that still can work as a birth control. I know that my cousin takes her health so much more seriously now and so do I, I make the best decisions for my mental well-being, my soul, and my body.
Xoxo,
Moonli
Brighten, Dr. J (2019). Beyond the Pill. New York City: HarperOne.
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