Taking hormones is not something that any women should enter into lightly. Women need to consider the risks of taking estrogen and progesterone before taking birth control or hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone can protect your uterus from cancer and can be a better birth control method for patients with a high clot risk. Discuss your options with your doctor before deciding which form of hormone will suit your needs.
Dangers of Blood Clots
Blood clots are a serious danger for anyone taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills. Blood that coagulates inside a vein or artery forms a blood clot, and this clot can then move to other areas of the body and cause damage. According to Harvard Medical School, pulmonary embolism, or a clot that goes to the lungs, affects up to 600,000 people a year and kills 100,000. Clots can also be responsible for strokes and heart attacks. Often, clots can start in the legs -- a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. Occasionally, these clots can also occur in the arms.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Progesterone can be taken by postmenopausal women as part of hormone replacement therapy. It is given in addition to estrogen to help cut down on the lining of the uterus and decrease the incidence of uterine cancer. According to the MedlinePlus article for progesterone, there is a risk for blood clots when taking this drug. You should be alert for any signs of blood clots to the legs, such as swelling or cramping in the calf muscle.
Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills usually have both estrogen and progesterone in combination. For this reason, birth control pills come with a risk of blood clots. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, if you smoke, are overweight or are otherwise at risk for heart disease, you can be at risk for blood clots with combination birth control pills due to the high amounts of estrogen. Oral pills have less estrogen than do patches and rings, so they may be a better alternative if you are high risk.
Progesterone-only Pills
Progesterone-only pills have a low risk for blood clots and are ideal for patients who have risk factors. These pills are often referred to as "mini-pills" because they don't have the estrogen component to them. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the pills must be taken on a strict schedule to be effective. Back-up contraception may be necessary with this method. They also induce lighter or absent periods with regular use.
