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A study conducted by three Loyola University (L-U) neurologists has disclosed that oral contraceptives can increase the risk associated with the development of stroke in women by almost double.
The oral contraceptive, which are available now contain oestrogens in lower levels when compared to the oral contraceptives available earlier. The relationship between oral contraceptives and stroke has been studied and debated for decades, and studies have yielded conflicting results.
According to this study, in every 100,000 women belonging to the child bearing age, 4.4 experience ischemic strokes, but in cases of women who have oral contraceptives the risk goes up by 1.9 times.
An ischemic stroke is death of an area of brain tissue resulting from an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain.
The study has proved that one in every 25,000 women having oral contraceptives come across additional stroke. The risk of stroke goes up in women who smoke or have hypertension or migraine, in addition to using oral contraceptives.
"When prescribing oral contraceptives, doctors should balance the risks and benefits for each individual patients," said senior study author Jose Biller, who chairs the neurology department at Loyala, according to an L-U release.
The study was published in MedLink Neurology.
