DEAR DR. GOTT:
My 24-year-old granddaughter recently had a stroke due to a clot because of her birth control medication. She got fast treatment and will be okay but now I am concerned about the other young women out there.
I have talked to several members of the medical community who say that this is primarily due to the medication, orthotricyclin. Manufacturers state that five percent of women taking it will develop a blood clot. To me this still means hundreds of thousands of women are at risk.
Please raise awareness about blood clots and birth control.
DEAR READER:
Consider it done.
For many years now, gynecologists and physicians have known about the risk of developing blood clots because of birth control pills. Any prudent physician will tell all potential users of the risks associated and it is then up to the patient to decide if the medication is worth it.
As for orthotricyclin being the main culprit I cannot comment because I am not a gynecologist and never prescribed birth control pills. However, to the best of my knowledge, all hormonal forms of contraceptives carry the risk of stroke due to blood clot formation.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Contraception”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott