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Risks of BCPs
Aside from a number of minor, but annoying, side effects, serious risks
of BCPs are limited, for the most part, to cardiovascular problems, including stroke,
heart attack, thrombophlebitis and thromboembolism.
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These complications are rare among women under age 35 who
are non-smokers and have no other high risk factors. The added risk of BCPs among these women is difficult to measure and probably
insignificant.
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For non-smokers over age 35, the increased risk of
cardiovascular problems among BCP users is measurable, but small and certainly
less than the risk of pregnancy.
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For smokers under age 35, the increased risk of
cardiovascular problems among BCP users is measurable, but small and certainly
less than the risk of pregnancy.
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For smokers over age 35, the increased risk of
cardiovascular problems among BCP users is significant, and so high as to make such
use ill-advised in any but the most extraordinary circumstances.
There is also a very small, but measurable increase in the risk of liver
tumors and cysts. The incidence of such problems in the population is so small and the
added risk so marginal that only rarely will this risk play a role in the clinical
decision for or against BCPs .
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This information is provided by The Brookside Associates. The Brookside
Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental
agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department
of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute
an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense
or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.
C. 2009, 2014, All Rights Reserved
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