Birth Control Pills, Hormone Therapy and Heart Disease

Birth control pills have little increased risk of heart disease for women who have not gone through menopause (when periods stop). But, they can pose heart disease risks for some women, particularly women with high blood pressure and women who smoke. Talk with your health care provider about whether birth control pills are best for you.

In the past, taking hormone therapy (HT) (estrogen plus progestin) was thought to help protect women against heart disease. But recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, showed that taking HT poses more risks than benefits. The study found that HT could increase a woman's risk for heart disease, stroke, and pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), as well as breast cancer. Because of these findings, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who have gone through menopause should not be given HT to prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions.

Earlier studies have also shown that women who have gone through menopause and who have heart disease, may have a greater risk of another cardiac event (like heart attack) after starting HT, at least in the short-term. For women who have had strokes, their risk for having another stroke goes up when they start taking HT. Hormones are not recommended for women with heart disease or for women who have had a stroke. If you have gone through menopause, talk with your health care provider about whether hormones are right for you.

If you are taking birth control pills or HT, watch for signs of trouble, such as abnormal bleeding, breast lumps, shortness of breath, dizziness, severe headaches, pain in your calves or chest, and report them to your health care provider right away. Also, talk with your health care provider about how often you should have an exam.