Two women, 17 and 24, died just 10 days apart after taking contraceptive pill
TWO women taking the contraceptive pill died within days of each other.
Georgia O’Neill, 24, was found dead in her bedroom at home in Auckland, New Zealand, in September 2021.
Isabella Rangiamohia Alexander, 17, passed away in the same month after collapsing while on a walk with her dad in nearby Muriwai.
Both had unknown blood clotting conditions.
Coroner Alex Ho linked the two deaths to the contraceptive pill, which contains oestrogen and can make the blood clot more easily.
They said all women should be made aware of the risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
On the day of her death, Georgia had texted her flatmate and father to say she wasn’t feeling well, the NZ Herald reports.
She complained of pain in her lower back, which ran down her left leg and was so severe at times it made her want to vomit.
An inquest heard that the make-up artist was unaware she had a Factor V Leiden mutation, which put her in a higher risk group.
Healthy people who take the pill have a three-to-fourfold increased risk of DVT or PE, but this rises to up to sevenfold for women with the mutation, Dr Eileen Merriman, clinical director of haematology and lead thrombosis clinician at the Waitematā District Health Board, said.
The coroner recommended all women prescribed the combined contraceptive pill, particularly those with a family history of VTE, should be made aware of the risks, and the symptoms to look out for.
For DVT, this includes throbbing pain in one leg, swelling, warm skin around the painful area, red or darkened skin and swollen veins, according to the NHS.
People with PE may also report difficulty breathing, chest pain and coughing up blood.
Isabella had been at the beach with her father Michael on September 9 when she suddenly collapsed, according to Stuff.
The teenager was rushed to hospital but died the following morning.
Blood clots were later found in her lungs and legs.
The coroner’s report revealed these were linked to the risks in taking oral contraceptives while carrying Factor V Leiden.
Isabella’s mum Teresa Hura-O’Connor said she had no idea her daughter had the condition.
Her direct cause of death was recorded as PE, with heterozygous Factor V Leiden mutation exacerbated by recently starting the pill.
Blood clots and the contraceptive pill
THE combined oral contraceptive pill, often just called “the pill”, contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced naturally in the ovaries.
If sperm reaches an egg (ovum), pregnancy can happen.
Contraception tries to stop this happening, usually by keeping the egg and sperm apart or by stopping the release of an egg (ovulation).
When taken correctly, the pill is over 99 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy.
It is also safe for most people, only triggering minor side effects such as mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches.
However, there is a very low risk of serious side effects, like blood clots and cervical cancer.
The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily as it makes it more “sticky” and more likely to clump.
If a blood clot develops, it could cause:
- Deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg)
- Pulmonary embolus (clot in your lung)
- Stroke
- Heart attack
The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors before prescribing the pill.
Source: NHS