Blood clots play a pivotal role in the body's healing mechanisms, but they spell serious trouble when formed unnecessarily.
Now, new research has provided evidence that the combined contraceptive pill triples the risk of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke in young women.
The Turkish study, presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference in Helsinki, adds to existing evidence linking the pill to blood clots and heart issues.
Scientists from Istanbul University examined 268 women aged 18 to 49 who had experienced sudden, unexplained strokes.
The study adds to growing evidence linking the pill to a stroke risk
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After comparing this group to 268 women of the same age who had not suffered a stroke, they found that among those who had strokes, 66 were using the combined contraceptive pill compared to just 38 in the control group.
After accounting for factors like smoking, high blood pressure, migraines and obesity, researchers found women on the pill were three times more likely to suffer a cryptogenic stroke.
The combined pill, taken by more than three million women in the UK, contains oestrogen and progestogen, with oestrogen being linked to a higher risk of blood clots that can lead to strokes.
Earlier this year, a Danish study suggested the combined pill increases the risk of stroke twofold.
Despite these findings, strokes in younger people are rare, and the overall risk from using the pill is very low, according to the Stroke Association.
It's important to always speak to your doctor and pharmacist when considering stopping any medication.
"Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk," said Dr Mine Sezgin, lead author of the study.
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Experts emphasise the absolute risk remains very lowGETTY"What's particularly notable is that the association remains strong even when accounting for other known risk factors, which suggests there may be additional mechanisms involved, possibly genetic or biological."
The experts said more studies are needed to firmly establish the link. However, they urged doctors to be careful when prescribing combined oral contraceptives to women with existing stroke risks or a history of ischaemic stroke.
"Our findings should prompt more careful evaluation of stroke risk in young women, particularly those with additional risk factors," Dr Sezgin said.
The research specifically identified a link to cryptogenic strokes, which are a type of brain bleed with no clear cause.
