A study funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that increased incidence of arterial thromboembolism (ATE) and venous thromboembolism (VTE), or, more simply, arterial blockage and blood clots, are associated with hormonal contraceptives containing drospirenone.
"We found that the use of drospirenone-containing combined hormonal contraceptives was associated with a 77 percent increase in hospitalizations for VTE, and the risk of ATE doubled compared to the risk associated with taking low-estrogen combined hormonal contraceptives that appeared on the market earlier "said Dr. Stephen Sydney, lead author of the study.
Drospirenone is a synthetic version of the female hormone, progesterone, which is also known as progestin. Over the past 10 years, three new-generation combination hormonal contraceptives have been approved for use, including drospirenone + ethinyl estradiol (DRSP) tablets, norelgestromine + ethinyl estradiol transdermal patches and etonestrel + ethinyl estradiol vaginal rings (ETON).
No association has been found between the use of NGMN patches and ETON vaginal rings and an increased risk of thromboembolic or thrombotic disorders. Perhaps because a much smaller number of women use them.
The risk of blood clots in the blood is present when using any birth control pill. Before deciding which birth control method to use, a woman should discuss this with a doctor. Health workers, in turn, must consider the risks and benefits of hormonal contraceptives and a woman’s tendency to form blood clots before prescribing these drugs.
