While pregnancy can increase the risk of blood clots, a study from the British Medical Journal Online indicates that pregnant women without any other risk factors are unlikely to develop them.
In a report about the study for WABC out of New York, Dr. Jay Aldersberg said it involved examining the pelvis and leg veins of pregnant women who had no other identified risk factors for clots.
The report quotes Dr. Ashlesha Dayal of Montefiore Medical Center as saying that the increased blood clot risk from pregnancy comes from the uterus growing so big that it compresses veins in the legs.
According to the report, risk factors for blood clots beyond simply being pregnant include:
- Obesity
- Having more than three or four children
- Older age at pregnancy
- Having had a prior c-section
- Long trips in a car or plane
- Prolonged bed rest
- Family history of blood clots
The Mayo Clinic also identifies the use of birth control pills as a risk factor for developing blood clots.
Though all birth control pills can increase the risk of blood clots, a number of studies show oral contraceptives containing the compound drospirenone carry up to three times the risk of blood clots compared to other birth control pills. Pills with drospirenone include Yasmin, Yaz, Beyaz and Ocella.
Patients should consult their doctors before making any changes in their medication. A consultation with a Beyaz lawyer is also important if there are significant injuries.
See the report here: https://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/health&id=8654848
