There has been a lot of information in the news lately about the risks associated with birth control pills, especially regarding the formation of blood clots in the large veins of the legs. (DVT– deep vein thrombosis).
DVT can be serious, as the clots may break away and travel to the lungs or brain. Fortunately, the risk is low with most forms of hormonal birth control. Here are some statistics to help put the risk in perspective:
DVT RISK
No hormonal contraceptive use: 1-5/10,000
BCP with 2nd generation progestins: 3-9/10,000
Vaginal ring: 3-5/10,000
Patch: 3-8/10,000
Pills with drosperinone (Yaz and related pills): 5-10/10,000
Pregnancy: 5-29/10,000
Postpartum: 40-65/10,000