Birth Control Linked to Heart Disease

November 2007

A new study has discovered a health risk that could affect 25 percent of American women – birth control pills may lead to heart disease. Researchers found that birth control pills may be connected to an increased risk of plaque forming inside the arteries, which could raise the risk of heart disease in the 100 million women worldwide who are “on the pill.”

Oral contraceptives were tested in 1,300 women of good health between the ages of 35 to 55. Data showed that for every 10 years on the pill, a woman’s risk of arterial plaque buildup increased by 20 to 30 percent. This plaque clings to the artery walls, potentially leading to the blockage of the arteries that causes heart disease.

Many experts feel that the study has identified an important risk. Other experts feel that the study is too limited and that further research needs be done to determine if a definite link exists between oral birth control drugs and heart disease risk factors.