#Germany #Vienna #Combined Contraceptives #Cryptogenic Stroke #ESOC 2025

New Research Findings on OC Use and Stroke Risk

At the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC) 2025, researchers unveiled alarming results regarding combined oral contraceptives (OCs) and their link to increased stroke risk. The study indicates that young women using these contraceptives face a threefold rise in the likelihood of cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS), a type of stroke with no identifiable cause. This research amplifies prior findings and emphasizes the importance of understanding sex-specific health risks associated with hormonal contraceptive use.

The study, named the Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young (SECRETO), involved 268 women aged between 18 to 49 who had experienced CIS, paired with 268 age-matched women who had not. The results were statistically significant even after controlling for various established risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension, and abdominal obesity. Notably, a substantial number of both cases and controls were utilizing OCs, pointing to a concerning trend in young women's health behaviors.

Lead author Dr. Mine Sezgin from Istanbul University elaborated on the findings, stating, "Our findings strengthen the existing evidence that hormonal contraception correlates with stroke risk." She further noted that the connection between OC use and stroke risk persists even when accounting for other known factors, implying that unexplored mechanisms, possibly genetic or biological, might be influencing these outcomes.

In exploring the specifics of the hormonal formulations involved, the majority of the participants utilized ethinylestradiol-based OCs, with a median estrogen dose measured at 20 micrograms. Other forms of estrogen were also recorded, lending further insight into the complex interplay of substances affecting women's health. Dr. Sezgin highlighted the need for additional, larger studies to better understand if certain formulations pose different levels of risk to users, ultimately aiming to inform personalized contraceptive solutions for women.

The implications of this research are particularly pertinent for healthcare providers, who are advised to exercise heightened scrutiny when prescribing OCs, especially to women with known vascular risk factors. Dr. Sezgin urged clinicians to perform thorough evaluations of stroke risk in young women, particularly those possessing additional risk factors for stroke. Such precautions could potentially mitigate unnecessary health risks associated with hormonal contraceptives.

Researchers plan to delve deeper into understanding the biological and genetic bases behind the observed correlation between OC use and increased stroke risk. By unraveling these mechanisms, the hope is to enhance clinical guidance for women's health decisions regarding contraceptive methods in the future.

The study underscores a crucial gap in the understanding of how contraceptives affect women's vascular health, and it serves as a call to action for both the medical community and the general public. Heightened awareness and ongoing education about these findings will be essential to ensure women's health safety in the context of hormonal contraceptive use in the years to come.

In summary, the alarming results from the ESOC 2025 study shine a light on a significant public health issue, urging a reassessment of current practices around prescribing combined oral contraceptives to young women. This pivotal research not only contributes to the existing body of knowledge but also sets the stage for critical conversations among clinicians, researchers, and women considering their contraceptive options to safeguard their health.