GynoFiles

Every woman who takes oral contraceptive pills has some risk of side effects and complications but the risks are generally regarded as very low for most women. For women with active estrogen-responsive cancers, such as breast cancer; or active liver disease, or actually pregnant, we say that the use of oral contraceptives is a Category 4: they should be avoided. However, there is a Category 3 that many women actually fit in to. We say that "the risks generally outweigh the benefits of the method" in Category 3 and we urge women to consider alternatives. For instance young women, ages 30-34,  with hypertension are 5-6 times greater to have a heart attack and stroke if they take birth control pills.  If you have been successfully using a birth control pill, but have one of these risk factors, most gynecologists will not automatically switch your method. It is important to put your risks in perspective. If you are not pregnant, you have a 1/10,000 risk of developing a blood clo...