Research Completed

Published Studies

Year Publication Categories
2016
Hormonal Contraception Use is Common Among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and an Elevated Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Summary

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an increased risk of blood clots due to having inflammation. Other risk factors can include things like smoking, using steroids, and being overweight. Most forms of hormonal contraception (birth control pills) have estrogen which can also increase clotting risk. We studied whether people with IBD that had risk factors for clotting were also put on birth control pills. This could be an opportunity for prevention (as other birth control options are available that do not increase clotting risk). Over 3000 women with IBD completed surveys asking about birth control methods and other risk factors for clotting. Birth control pills were used in over 30% of women with IBD. Women with risk factors for clotting (smoking, steroids, obesity) still had the same rates of birth control pill use as those without these risk factors. Based on this study, it is important for GI doctors to ask patients about birth control use and find out whether they also have other risk factors for a blood clot. By changing the form of contraception, this could prevent a complication of a blood clot in the future.


Full Scientific Manuscript

Keywords
Blood clots; Deep Vein Thrombosis; DVT; hormonal contraception; contraception; women s health; birth control pills;

Women's Health