Combined hormonal birth control pills including estrogen and progestogen have long been a popular choice for millions of women to control fertility and regulate the menstrual cycle. However, recent studies have shown that this drug can increase the risk of stroke, especially in young women.
At the recent European Stroke Organization Conference, experts published data from a study called SECReto, which surveyed more than 600 patients from 13 countries, showing that women using combined birth control pills have a three times higher risk of underlying stroke than those who do not use them.
An underlying stroke is a type of local anemia that occurs suddenly without a known cause, accounting for 40% of all stroke cases in young people.
The key point is the composition of synthetic estrogen in drugs. This hormone can increase the risk of blood clotting, which is the main cause of stroke.
Biological mechanisms show that estrogen stimulates the liver to produce clotting protein, while reducing the body's natural anticoagulants, making blood flow more susceptible to blockage.
Another study that followed more than two million women also had similar results. Specifically, vaginal rings increase the risk of stroke by 2.4 times, while birth control patch increases by nearly 3.5 times. Conversely, birth control measures that only contain progestin do not record this increased risk.
However, experts note that the absolute risk is still low, with an estimated one more stroke per year in 4,700 women using combined birth control pills. However, when considering the scale of millions of users worldwide, the accumulated result is significant.
transparent and complete information will be the key for women to make decisions that suit their bodies and circumstances. There is no perfect method, but when understanding the risks, such as increased blood clots or strokes, it will help women choose safer and more effective measures.
At the same time, experts also call for more serious investment in gender medicine research, so that women's health is no longer taken lightly or overlooked.
