It is without question that birth control has been linked with a variety of dangerous side effects. From the patch, to the pill, and everything in between there are a number reasons that some should steer clear from the pregnancy preventing contraceptives. But, if you can’t afford the risk in getting pregnant and need some sort of prevention, which is your better option? A new study claims that choosing an oral contraception over a non-oral one may be the better choice.
According to the new Danish study just recently published in the British Medical Journal, women who use non-oral hormonal contraceptives, like patches and vaginal rings, may be at higher risk of blood clots than those who take oral forms of birth control.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen analyzed national data from more than 1.6 million healthy women ages 15 to 49 who took various forms of birth control. They found that women who took birth control pills were at three times the risk of blood clots than those who did not use any type of hormonal birth control, but those who used other types of non-oral hormonal contraceptives were at higher risk. Women who used skin patches were at eight times an increased risk of blood clots and those who used vaginal rings had a 6.5 percent increased risk.
People who are overweight, inactive, those who smoke and have a family history of blood clots are all at increased risk for Venous Thrombosis (VT), a blood clot that forms within a vein. Certain medical conditions also increase a person’s risk. The study suggests that some women talk with their doctor about switching from non-oral hormone contraceptives if they are already at high risk for blood clots.