Blood Clots and Birth Control
With news of a COVID-19 vaccine potentially creating risk for a type of blood clot, our medical team wants to make sure you know the facts.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer M. Peña, Chief Medical Officer on April 14, 2021
Because the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been put on pause due to a small number of people experiencing serious blood clots, we have been hearing from some patients concerned about the risk of blood clots posed by combination birth control. We want to make sure you’re informed about everything you need to know.
Combination hormonal birth control does carry a known risk of blood clots. By combination birth control we mean birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin, as well as the birth control ring and birth control patch.
Birth control-related risk of developing a blood clot is quite low. There is a higher risk of developing a blood clot during pregnancy than there is from taking hormonal birth control.
Birth control from Nurx costs as little as $0 with insurance or $15 per month without insurance.
We don’t prescribe combination birth control to patients with conditions and risk factors that put them at increased risk of blood clots. These risk factors include a history of stroke or blood clotting disorders, if you smoke and are older than 35, if you experience migraine with aura, or if you have another condition that makes combined birth control risky. Nurx follows the prescribing guidelines of the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Progestin-only birth control carries little risk of blood clots. If you are on a progestin-only pill (also called a mini-pill) you do not have a significant risk of blood clots. This is true of the birth control shot as well, because the shot contains no estrogen.
If you have no conditions that put you at higher risk for stroke or blood clots then your birth control remains safe, even with the COVID-19 vaccination.
At Nurx, we have several options for birth control, including the progestin-only pill and the birth control shot, which contain no estrogen and carry significantly less risk of developing a blood clot, and our expert providers will counsel you on which options are best for you and carry the lowest risk of adverse side effects.
This blog provides information about telemedicine, health and related subjects. The blog content and any linked materials herein are not intended to be, and should not be construed as a substitute for, medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any reader or person with a medical concern should consult with an appropriately-licensed physician or other healthcare provider. This blog is provided purely for informational purposes. The views expressed herein are not sponsored by and do not represent the opinions of Nurx™.
