What is it about birth control pills that causes an increase in your risk of heart attack and stroke?

i don't take the pill, or else I would ask the doctor of course. I was just curious and can't seem to find this specific info online.What is it about birth control pills that causes an increase in your risk of heart attack and stroke?
this is what the doctors told me after I had my stroke 2 yrs. ago at age 37. The very first question was: are you on any forms of contraceptives esp. hormones?? Luckily, I said No, I did NOT contribute to the clot on my brain. I use NFP ( natural family planning). Their reply was: it was a good thing, because had I taken any high/low dose hormones that are not natural to begin with, it would've caused the clot to get bigger faster and I would've been dead.





It's the the synthetic hormones (abnormally large/small doses) in the pills, patch, %26amp;Depo tha cause the blood to clot. Some women don't clot right away but they can form tiny clots that don't cause any harm until they get bigger over time and then it can cause a DVT in the leg, PE (pulmonary embolism) to the heart/lungs, or even the brain to cause a stroke. Also, women who have a hx of heart disease, clotting problems, smoke, diabetes, are overweight, or have an illness prone to clots combined w/the use of the pill make it high risk as well.





What I don't understand is why so many women would risk their lives taking something not natural knowing that it causes so many side effects: weight gain, mood swings, low sex drive, breakthrough bleeding/ovulation, pregnancy, clots, and serious drug interactions.





Natural family plannins is safe, easy to learn, easy to use, is cheap, can be used to avoid/achieve a pregnancy, and can be used by women w/irregular cycles or serious illnesses. My husband %26amp; I have been using it for 10 yrs. to avoid a pregnancy due to serious health reasons. We heard about NFP via a local hospital %26amp; were taught by a trained practitioner.





It does require committment and communication on both partners but isn't that what marriage is all about? Couples have so much to gain and nothing to lose when using NFP. Can the same be said about the pill where the drug company's only motive is profit %26amp; not the well being of women. for more information on nfp, see the sites listed. for info on the pill, see below.What is it about birth control pills that causes an increase in your risk of heart attack and stroke?
It's not the pill, it is the person who takes it.





If the woman is over 35 and smokes, the risk for heart attack and stroke is high.





Most women (non-smokers) don't have that risk.
Most common birth control pills contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin








Older ';high-dose'; birth control pills were linked to serious heart complications, but newer low-dose pills appear to be safe in most women








Birth control pills increase the risk of heart problems in women who have certain heart disease risk factors, including women who smoke, or have high blood pressure or diabetes








The hormones in birth control pills can raise blood pressure鈥攈ave your blood pressure checked at least once a year if you use the pill or the patch








If you develop high blood pressure while on the pill, you may need to switch to another form of contraception.





In women with certain heart disease risk factors, taking birth control pills can increase the risk of heart problems. You may want to consider an alternative method of birth control if you:








Smoke








Have high blood pressure








Are overweight or obese








Have diabetes








Have been diagnosed with heart disease, stroke, or blood clots








Have a family history of heart disease





Women who smoke while using oral contraceptives have a higher risk of serious cardiovascular problems such as blood clots, particularly if they are older than 35 years of age.





Blood sugar levels sometimes change dramatically in women who take birth control pills. If you are diabetic or have a close relative who is, you should have your blood sugar monitored closely when starting the pill.





If you have had problems with blood clots, a heart attack, or a stroke, or if you have had any kind of cardiovascular disease, hormonal contraceptives may not be a safe option for you. Be sure to discuss your medical history with your healthcare provider, including whether you have taken high-dose birth control pills in the past, before taking hormonal contraceptives