Latest news with #ThePill
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Contraceptive used by MILLIONS triples risk of strokes in young women - study has doctors concerned
Millions of women taking the combined contraceptive pill are at an increased risk of suffering a sudden, unexplained stroke, worrying research suggests. Researchers, who analysed data from over 500 women, found those who used a combined oral contraceptive —better known as The Pill—were three times more likely to suffer a stroke than those who didn't. This was despite researchers finding no significant link between The Pill and known risk stroke factors such as high blood pressure, migraines and obesity, suggesting it was the drug itself that was somehow responsible. Dr Mine Sezgin, an expert in neurology from Istanbul University and lead researcher of the new study, said the findings had implications for contraceptive use among women with health conditions that increased their risk of a stroke. 'Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk and should prompt more careful evaluation of stroke risk in young women, particularly those with additional risk factors,' she said. 'This knowledge could help guide more personalised contraceptive choices for women.' The researchers are now advising healthcare professionals to exercise caution when prescribing the combined contraceptive pill to women with an increased risk of stroke. This isn't the first study to establish a link between The Pill and stroke risk and independent experts have previously urged women to not stop using contraceptives based on the results. They have said it is critical to remember the odds of a healthy woman suffering a stroke is extremely low in the first place, so the increased risk found in these studies quite small in real terms. Independent experts have also highlighted pregnancy carries a high risk of stroke. The Pill is a hormonal contraceptive, containing both oestrogen and progestogen, which prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. In the UK, around 3.1million women take medication, according to recent data. But more than 100 million women around the world use the combined oral contraceptive, according to the World Health Organisation. In the new study, presented at the European Stroke Organisation conference in Helsinki, Finland, researchers examined data from 268 women aged 18-49 who had suffered a cryptogenic ischemic stroke. This is a stroke with no obvious identifiable causes. These women were matched with 268 stroke-free participants who acted as a control. Of the 536 participants, 66 stroke-patients and 38 women were taking the combined contraceptive pill. After adjusting for age and medical conditions researchers found women on The Pill had triple the risk of suffering a cryptogenic stroke. Researchers also accounted for various amount of oestrogen in the different oral contraceptives to ensure consistency. Dr Sezgin said: 'What is 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'. 'While out data provides important initial insights, larger studies are needed to determine if certain formulations carry different levels of risk.' When taken correctly, the combined pill is said to be over 99 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy. It is also commonly prescribed for heavy or painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis and acne. However, The Pill has also been associated with a number of concerning health complications including blood clots, heart attacks and cancer. Common side effects include breakthrough bleeding, headaches, nausea and sore breasts. Some women also report weight gain and a change in sex drive, however, there is not enough evidence to say whether this is caused by the pill. According to the NHS, taking The Pill can increase a woman's chances of developing breast or cervical cancer, but this increased risk disappears 10 years after a woman stops taking it. The new research comes as new data suggests cases of strokes are skyrocketing in young people, with 100,000 patients suffering from the medical emergency each year in the UK. Strokes are one of the biggest killers in Britain, killing about 38,000 people each year and are also a leading cause of disability. The tell-tale symptoms of a stroke can be remembered using the acronym FAST: Face (drooping or inability to smile), Arms (weakness or inability to lift one arm), Speech (slurred or garbled), and Time (to call emergency services immediately). But other lesser-known symptoms to watch out include blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes, a severe headache and feeling or being sick. Strokes are most commonly caused by fatty deposits or a blood clot blocking arteries supplying the brain—known as ischaemic stroke. This can happen as a result of cardiovascular disease as critical blood vessels become narrowed or blocked over time by plaques. Another type of stroke—called haemorrhagic strokes—occurs when a blood vessel bursts in the brain and starts to leak its contents into the organ.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Myths about the contraceptive pill debunked by a doctor
The combined oral contraceptive pill, also known as 'The Pill' is under scrutiny on social media platforms such as TikTok, with many users rushing to slate its side effect profile, in favour of 'hormone free' approaches. Doctors are seeing the knock-on effect of this with an increasing number of young women reported to be declining the pill after doing their research online, corresponding with a 20 per cent drop in pill usage in the past 10 years. The pill is an established effective method of contraception. It contains both oestrogen and progesterone hormones which prevent an egg being released from the ovary, thus preventing pregnancy with over 99 per cent effectiveness (if taken as directed). It also keeps the lining of the womb thin, and therefore has a useful role in the management of gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis causing painful periods, premenstrual syndrome or in regulating the cycle in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Like all medications, the pill can have some unwanted side effects such as weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes and a small increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer. These side effects vary between users and may even go away after a few months of use. There are also a number of misconceptions that deter women from taking the pill, and it's important to bust these myths to allow women to compare all their options and make an informed choice. Recent evidence suggests a higher rate of asthma attacks in some women taking this progesterone-only pill. Asthma is more common in women, and often more severe with twice as many women dying from asthma attacks compared to men. The large study in 260,000 women showed that those who were taking the progesterone-only pill had a higher rate of asthma attacks. The risk was higher in women under 35 years old, in those who used fewer asthma medications such as steroids, and those who had higher levels of inflammatory markers in their blood linked to asthma. Importantly, there was no increase in asthma attacks for women taking the combined oestrogen and progesterone contraceptive pill. So how do women use this research? Research into the effect of female hormones on asthma risk is ongoing but the results of this study will help both women and the healthcare professionals counselling them on their contraceptive choice. It's not a one size fits all approach, and this study further highlights the importance of tailoring the decision based on an individual's personal medical history. Whilst taking the combined pill is associated with a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who don't take it, it has not been proven to directly 'cause' cancer in the absence of other risk factors. Women with high risk of developing breast cancer, such as those with a strong family history, will be advised to consider alternative forms of contraception. But for the average female, the small increased risk is similar to the risk associated with being overweight or drinking alcohol. The risk of pill usage on breast cancer risk also decreases back to that of a non-pill taker 10 years after stopping. There is also a small increased risk of developing cervical cancer, and it's important for women to keep up with their smear tests. However, the pill decreases the risk of developing endometrial (womb), ovarian and colorectal cancer. There is no evidence to suggest the pill negatively impacts fertility. The likely reason for this misconception is that many women start taking the pill at a young age before they have had time to appreciate the regularity of their cycle. When they stop taking the pill, often at a time in their life when they are trying to conceive, it exposes pre-existing, underlying gynaecological conditions such as PCOS which is often associated with irregular periods and difficulties with conceiving. It's also important to note that fertility naturally declines with age, particularly over the age of 35 and so conception may take longer than expected. Evidence shows the same number of women become pregnant one to two years after trying, regardless of whether they have used the pill or not. A possible side effect of the pill is a change in libido; however studies show reduced libido is only observed in around 10-15 per cent of users, and actually a similar number of users report an increased sex drive. If reduced libido is experienced, it can often be improved simply by switching to a different brand of pill. For many women experiencing painful or heavy periods, taking the pill may actually help with their libido by improving these symptoms. Some users will report mood changes and symptoms of depression after commencing the pill, but it's relatively rare and certainly not at the rate that TikTok suggests. If this happens, your medical practitioner will review the pill choice and sometimes even just switching to a different brand of pill can fix this. Hormonal contraception may not be suitable for everyone and other options may be preferred, but ruling it out based on opinions on TikTok that are not backed by evidence may limit options unnecessarily. It's important to consider all the science-backed facts and contraceptive options available to find the one that's right for you. Everyone will have their own experience and can be affected by side effects differently. Unbalanced online narratives have caused many women to turn to hormone-free natural tracking methods which involve tracking body temperature, vaginal discharge and period dates, and avoiding sex on the fertile days. However, this method is not as effective and popularity in this method has been accompanied by a rise in the number of unwanted pregnancies and terminations. When we speak to patients on contraceptive options, medical professionals will present the pros and cons of each contraceptive choice, be that the pill, condoms, fertility awareness methods or long-acting forms such as coils and implants, to allow women to make an informed choice. The danger of 'doing your research' on social media is that the information is not presented in this balanced way and is often overshadowed by an individual's biassed and unfavourable experience. This article was originally published in October 2024 and has been updated. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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The Guardian
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lonely bats, naming spats and advice for Liz Truss – take the Thursday quiz
Thursday is upon us once more, and it is time again to test yourself with our weekly quiz on topical news stories and general knowledge. Fifteen questions await you, liberally laced with the regular in-jokes and stupid answer options that make this not quite your usual news quiz – and long may it stay that way. There are no prizes, but you can let us know how you got on in the comments. The Thursday quiz, No 195 If you really do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers – and can show your working and are absolutely 100% positive you aren't attempting to factcheck a joke – you can complain about it in the comments below. Why not watch Woman Driver by The Pill instead?
