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WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES Some women should not use the pill. For example, you should not take the pill if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Text Continues Below
You should also not use the pill if you have any of the following conditions: ° A history of heart attack or stroke
° Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
° A history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
° Chest pain (angina pectoris)
° Known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
° Unexplained vaginal bleeding (until a diagnosis is reached by your doctor)
° Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of the pill
° Liver tumor (benign or cancerous)
° Known or suspected pregnancy Tell your health care provider if you have ever had any of these conditions. Your health care provider can recommend a safer method of birth control. RISKS OF TAKING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES 1. Risk of developing blood clots Blood clots and blockage of blood vessels are one of the most serious side effects of taking oral contracep-tives and can cause death or serious disability. In particular, a clot in the legs can cause thrombophlebitis and a clot that travels to the lungs can cause a sudden blocking of the vessel carrying blood to the lungs. Rarely, clots occur in the blood vessels of the eye and may cause blindness, double vision, or impaired vision. If you take oral contraceptives and need elective surgery, need to stay in bed for a prolonged illness or injury or have recently delivered a baby, you may be at risk of developing blood clots. You should consult your doctor about stopping oral contraceptives four weeks before surgery and not taking oral contracep-tives for two weeks after surgery or during bed rest. You should also not take oral contraceptives soon after delivery of a baby. It is advisable to wait for at least four weeks after delivery if you are not breast feeding or four weeks after a second trimester abortion. If you are breast feeding, you should wait until you have weaned your child before using the pill. (See also the section on Breast Feeding in General Precautions.) Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next >>
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