Neurologist: taking contraceptives increases the risk of developing a cerebral infarction by 1.5 times

May 16, Minsk. Taking contraceptives increases the risk of developing a cerebral infarction by 1.5 times, said Vyacheslav Vashchilin, Deputy Director for Medical Affairs of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Chief Freelance Neurologist of the Ministry of Health, in the V Teme project on BelTA's YouTube channel.

"There have been many studies and there is even a Cochrane review (an international organization conducts a meta-analysis of all studies and gives a general view of the situation). According to the available data, women who take contraceptives have an approximately 1.5 times higher risk of developing a cerebral infarction than those who does not accept them," Vyacheslav Vashchilin noted.

At the same time, he noted, modern drugs contain low doses of estrogen, so the risks are significantly reduced. However, along with taking contraceptives, other factors also matter. There is information in a number of publications that the risks of developing a stroke in women who take contraceptives, but monitor their blood pressure, do not drink alcohol and do not smoke, are approximately comparable to those of women who do not take them.

"The topic is relevant, but the view on it is ambiguous. There is a risk, but it is not so high. In each case, when taking contraceptives, one must proceed from medical indications," Vyacheslav Vashchilin noted.

Answering the question of how long contraceptives should be taken for the risks to seriously increase, the chief freelance neurologist said that in this case there is no time-dependent effect. "Contraceptives can affect the blood coagulation system, so the disease can develop both after using the first package, and after a few years, when several risk factors come together," he said.