Rhianna Benson
Women 'on the pill' have received an urgent warning from medics due to the possible connection between certain contraceptive medications and a condition often branded the 'silent killer'.
For those in need of a little bit of background info, it is believed that around 3.1 million Brits take a combined oral contraceptive on a daily basis - whether that be to prevent pregnancies, manage period flow, or tackle acne.
When it comes to global statistics, however, the numbers are even greater.
According to JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, over 400 million women of reproductive age used prescribed contraceptives as of 2024.
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Combined oral contraceptives - which contain both oestrogen and progestogen - work by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month by essentially mimicking the body's natural hormones.
However, one of the most concerning possible side effects of prolonged contraceptive pill use is something commonly dubbed by those in the medical profession as the 'silent killer' - this being a stroke.
A stroke is usually triggered by a rupture in the blood vessels of the brain, causing a shortage of blood flow and stopping oxygen from reaching the vital organ. A prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain's tissues could also result in permanent damage.
According to new research, out of the group of women who'd experienced ischaemic stroke, which is a brain bleed without a clear explanation, compared to those who hadn't.
While accounting for factors like smoking, BMI, and recurrence of migraines, the study found that women on the pill were three times more likely to suffer a stroke.
From their findings, they also took into consideration the amount of estrogen, adding that the 'highest estimates of thrombotic risk during use of oestrogen containing hormonal contraceptives'.
However, they further add that the chances of a healthy woman experiencing a stroke are incredibly low, however, the increased risk is something clinicians should be aware of.
Discussing the apparent association between 'the pill' and an unexpected stroke, expert neurologist Dr Mine Sezgin said that the latest findings had huge implications for both doctors and patients.
"Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk and should prompt more careful evaluation of stroke risk in young women, particularly those with additional risk factors," the Istanbul University medic and the study's lead researcher explained (via MailOnline).
"This knowledge could help guide more personalised contraceptive choices for women."
Sezgin added that her research has resulted in more and more doctors being told to advise further caution to patients considering taking a combined oral contraceptive whilst paying particular attention to the possibility of a stroke.