Apples for Health- Check woman's heart before contraceptives

Check woman's heart before contraceptives

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Healthcare providers should evaluate each woman's risk factors prior to starting any contraceptive therapy, U.S. researchers suggest.

Study co-author Dr. Chrisandra L. Shufelt of Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, said although pre-menopausal women have a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease, routine screening for potential problems and follow-up is important.

Earlier contraceptives used higher levels of estrogen than the newer formulations. The newer formulations use lower doses of estrogen, which is safer in terms of lowering the risk of blood clots, and they tend to use a progestin, a synthetic version of progesterone that is not likely to raise blood pressure and may even slightly reduce it, said Bairey Merz, also of Cedars-Sinai.

Since 2000, death rates have increased in women between the ages of 35 and 44, while all other age groups have seen a decline. Among factors that may be contributing to the rise are increases in obesity and smoking, a decline in physical activity and a significant increase in the use of oral contraceptives.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found any woman considering the use of contraceptives should be evaluated for cholesterol levels, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, kidney problems, obesity and other vascular diseases, including migraines.

Healthy, nonsmoking women who are 35 or older can continue taking a low dose oral contraceptive until age 50 to 55 after reviewing the risks and benefits, the study said.