Archive · 3 Jun 2025
Study: Hormonal Contraceptives Linked to Increased Stroke Risk in Women
Some studies show that birth control pills with both estrogen and progestogen might make women more likely to have a specific kind of stroke.
This is a stroke where doctors don't know what caused it.
A study looked at women aged 18-49 and found those using combined birth control pills had a higher chance of a stroke.
It seems estrogen in the pills could be the problem.
However, the overall chance of having a stroke is still small.
Because of this, it's important for women to understand the possible risks.
Medical research on women's health has historically been underfunded.
Study presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference found a link between combined hormonal contraceptives and cryptogenic stroke.
Women using combined oral contraceptives were three times more likely to experience a cryptogenic stroke.
This finding was from an international study involving 608 patients aged 18-49.
Progestin-only contraceptives (IUD) did not show increased stroke risk.
Research suggests estrogen may be the main driver of stroke risk, although absolute risk is still low.
- Who
- Researchers, women using combined hormonal contraceptives
- What
- Study finds combined hormonal contraceptives increase risk of cryptogenic stroke in women
- When
- Presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference
- Where
- European Stroke Organisation Conference
- Why
- Hormonal contraceptives may have sex-specific factors that increase stroke risk.
Medical Professionals
Patients
Informing Patients
Medical Professionals
Recognize and communicate risks associated with hormonal contraceptives.
Patients
Prescribe hormonal contraceptives without fully informing patients of potential risks.
- Contraceptive Type
- Combined oral contraceptives (containing estrogen and progestogen)
- Increased Stroke Risk
- 3 times more likely for combined users
- Stroke Type
- Cryptogenic ischemic stroke
- Study Age Range
- 18-49
- Absolute Risk
- Fewer than 40 in every 100,000 women