Common medication taken by millions in the UK linked to triple risk of deadly stroke
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THE combined pill could triple the risk of sudden stroke in young women, a new study has suggested.
It's already well known that the pills, taken by over 3million women in the UK, can increase the risk of blood clots and heart issues.
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Now, scientists based in Turkey have also linked it to a higher chance of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) - a type of brain bleed with no clear cause.
The new findings were presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference in Helsinki, Finland today (May 20).
Researchers from Istanbul University looked at 268 women aged 18 to 49 who had sudden, unexplained strokes, and compared them to 268 women of the same age who hadn't had a stroke.
Among those who had strokes, 66 were using the combined contraceptive pill compared to just 38 in the control group.
After accounting for factors like smoking, high blood pressure, migraines and obesity, they found women on the pill were three times more likely to suffer a cryptogenic stroke.
The combined pill contains oestrogen and progestogen - and it's the oestrogen that's been linked to a higher risk of blood clots, which can lead to strokes.
However, strokes in younger people are rare, and the overall risk from using the pill is very low, according to the Stroke Association.
It's important to always speak to your doctor and pharmacist when thinking of coming off a medication.
Earlier this year, a Danish study suggested the combined pill increases the risk of stroke two-fold.
But this is the one of times experts have found a link to cryptogenic strokes, specifically.
How to check your pulse, for risk of stroke
'Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk,' said Dr Mine Sezgin, lead author of the study.
'What's particularly notable is that the association remains strong even when accounting for other known risk factors, which suggests there may be additional mechanisms involved – possibly genetic or biological.'
The experts said more studies are needed to firmly establish the link.
But they also urged doctors to be careful when prescribing combined oral contraceptives to women with existing stroke risks or a history of ischaemic stroke.
'Our findings should prompt more careful evaluation of stroke risk in young women, particularly those with additional risk factors,' Dr Sezgin, said.
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