Oral Contraceptive And Estrogen Replacement Therapy
March 3, 2009 by rainier
The role of oral contraceptives in stroke risk is still inconclusive, primarily because most research has looked at the effects of high-dose estrogen pills, and most women now use lower-dose preparations. Estrogen is believed to promote blood clotting; lowerdose estrogen preparations are thought to minimize this effect. Because studies have found no increase in current risk of stroke or heart attack in women who previously used oral contraceptives, it is believed that the pill does not promote atherosclerosis.
Several retrospective studies have suggested that oral contraceptive use is associated with an increase in stroke risk, while other studies have only found a significant risk of brain hemorrhage in women over age 35 who take the pill and smoke. Smokers who have migraine headaches and take oral contraceptives may be at a particularly high risk of stroke.
Experts usually advise women who smoke not to use oral contraceptives—or better, to quit smoking.In contrast, there is evidence to suggest that estrogen replacement therapy for postmenopausal women may slow the atherosclerotic process. In this group the use of estrogens may actually lower the risk of stroke (and heart disease).
