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What Are Oral Contraceptives in Haemostatic?

by Rosanne Knorr

Overview

Haemostatic (also called hemostatic, haemostasis or hemostasis) refers to the body's ability to control bleeding. An abnormal haemostatic response could lead to uncontrolled bleeding, ie. hemorrhage, or its opposite, thrombosis, which is abnormal thickening, resulting in blood clots.
Significance

Haemostasis is essential in ensuring that the blood maintains a healthy balance of fluidity. A thickening can lead to dangerous clots; too little coagulation can lead to uncontrolled bleeding. Either can lead to serious conditions and death. Several theories have noted that contraceptive use may lead to a disruption of this essential haemostasis.

Studies

Scientists have studied oral contraceptives to determine if they change the normal coagulation abilities in the body. Studies, including those reported by the National Institutes of Health, have compared healthy women who use oral contraceptives versus those who don't; others combine additional factors, such as smoking, to see if that increases the potential for haemostatic problems.
Thrombosis

When the blood thickens more than it should, a condition known as "thrombosis" can occur. Thrombosis clots the blood in the veins, a dangerous conditions since the clot can break off from the vein and move through the bloodstream to the lungs where it can cause a pulmonary embolism, damaging not just the lungs but other organs and resulting in dealth.
Oral Contraceptives

In general, research notes that a low dose of oral contraceptives with estrogen results in a minimal risk of increased heart and lung-related problems such as stroke, thrombosis or myocardial infarction. However, these results are still being questionned. Changes to coagulation have been noted with estrogens; progestins also may be a factor.
Dosage Effects

A French study reported in the journal "Thrombosis and Haemostasis" in 1995 that the greater the amount of estrogen in the oral contraceptives, the greater the risk for thrombosis, especially when the estrogen dose is above 50 micrograms.
Smoking

The "American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology" noted in a 1999 report that studies showed a correlation between smoking and increased effects of oral contraceptive use on coagulation. Although all participants showed disruptions of the coagulation system when they were on oral contraceptives with the highest estrogen component, those who smoked had a greater chance for disruptions in the coagulation system.
Warnings

Based on current knowledge, women who wish to use oral contraception should be advised to use as low a dose of hormones as are feasible for contraception. Smokers are warned to avoid oral contraceptives or quit smoking.