Are contraceptive pills safe? Study warns some birth control methods may increase risk of heart attack and stroke in women

Are you using contraceptive pills as a convenient way to prevent pregnancy? If yes, then beware¡ªa new study has revealed that some types of contraceptives may carry a risk of heart attacks and strokes in women.

According to researchers, medics should be aware of the risks while prescribing certain hormonal contraceptives; however, the overall risk is very low.

The study was conducted in Denmark by The British Medical Journal on February 12, 2025.

Women who use oestrogen-progestin pills are at higher risk of heart attack

To conduct the study, the researchers analysed the data of more than two million women between the ages of 15 and 49 in Denmark. During an average follow-up time of 11 years, researchers reported 4,730 strokes and 2,072 heart attacks among these women.

This data was then compared with their medical records to see whether they had been prescribed hormonal contraception, including combined oral contraceptives such as progestogen-only pills or hormonal intrauterine devices, contraceptive implants, injections, patches, and vaginal rings.

The team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen found that women who took combined oestrogen-progestin pills appeared to be at two-fold higher risk of heart attack and stroke as compared to others.

Non-oral contraceptives carry a higher risk of heart attacks

Surprisingly, apart from the hormonal contraceptive pills, some non-oral combined contraceptives, such as the vaginal ring and patch, showed a higher risk of stroke and heart attack in women.

According to the study, the vaginal ring was linked to a 2.4 times higher risk of stroke and a 3.8 times higher risk of heart attack. While the patch showed a 3.4 times higher risk of stroke in women.

However, as per the researchers, the 'absolute risks are low.'

Heart attack risk in women

Studies that have been conducted earlier suggested that a potential increased risk of ischaemic stroke and heart attack has been reported, but the findings have been inconsistent. Women who had a history of blood clots, cancer, liver and kidney diseases, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, or infertility treatment were excluded from the study.

As a result of the study, cases of ischaemic stroke and heart attack were recorded, which included factors like existing blood pressure levels and diabetes.