The combination (estrogen and progestin) birth control pill can increase your risk of blood clots, although this risk is very small; at most, 0.1 % of people per year develop blood clots as a result of being on birth control. To put that into perspective, if 1000 people took birth control pill, only 1 one of them would develop blood clots. It’s a very small chance, and is often more commonly tied to other pre-existing conditions like a history of heart disease. Nevertheless, it is still helpful to understand the health risks of hormonal birth control, especially ones like blood clots that could lead to more serious health issues like heart attack or stroke.
Some birth control methods like the pill, patch, and ring have both estrogen and progestin, while others, like the shot and hormonal IUD, only have progestin. These hormones can contribute to an increased risk of blood clots by affecting the production of blood clotting factors and certain proteins in the blood that promote clotting. Estrogen is the primary hormone linked to increased risks of blood clots; progestins, when used in combination with estrogen, may also increase this risk.
Yes, birth control can cause blood clots, BUT this risk is incredibly small. The risk of dying from a blood clot complication on the pill is still smaller than the risk of dying from pregnancy complications while off it. So while birth control pills can increase your risk for blood clots, they also reduce your risk of pregnancy-related death or complications by a much larger margin.
With that in mind, it is generally recommended that your personal or family history of blood clots and/or heart diseases should be taken into consideration when planning to start a contraceptive, as they could put you at a higher risk of developing blood clots. If this is something you’ve heard about from family members, or just aren’t sure about, make sure you bring it up to your doctor so they can help you answer any questions or address any concerns you might have.
Pain is the most common symptom of blood clots! Pain behind the knee, or back of calf, or noticeable redness, warmth, or swelling, particularly if the symptom affects your lower extremities (legs), are all reasons to check in with your physician. It’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your body so that when symptoms like this come up, you can recognize them early and seek treatment.
Blood clots can stay in place or move to other spots which can be dangerous, especially when they move to the lungs, which could cause more serious complications like pulmonary embolisms (symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, chest pain, and rapid heartbeat).
While it’s true these symptoms can show up for other issues as well, if something is feeling off or unusual it’s a good idea to see a physician anyway to rule more serious conditions out.
While we cannot prevent it entirely, there are ways to reduce your risk of getting blood clots when on hormonal birth control including:
Basically maintaining a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. It might sound like the same advice you hear to prevent a ton of other health issues, and that’s because it is!
If you start to experience symptoms of blood clots shortly after starting a hormonal contraceptive, it feels logical to associate them with the new medication. However, it is important to keep in mind that correlation does not mean causation; in other words just because you’ve started hormonal birth control doesn’t mean the symptoms you’re experiencing are blood clots caused by it.
You may have underlying health issues that lead to the formation of blood clots that may not be easily screened for in typical check ups or physicals. Genetic conditions can increase your risk of blood clotting, like certain protein deficiencies. Lifestyle factors like being bedridden for long periods of time because of illness or surgery, sitting for long hours, or having a blood pool in the leg area because valves in a vein don’t work properly.
Some non-hormonal birth control methods that you can choose instead of hormonal contraceptives are: copper IUD, external & internal condoms, vaginal contraceptive film, and diaphragms.
If you feel that you would like to continue or to try out hormonal birth control methods, there are progestin-only options as well that have a much smaller risk of blood clots. Progestin-only pills are similar to the combination (estrogen and progestin) pills except there is no hormone-free, placebo pill week. You take a pack of progestin-only pills for 28 days, then start a new pack immediately. Hormonal IUDs, the shot, and the implant are also viable options without estrogen.
There’s a lot of content circulating on social media that highlights the potential risk of blood clotting with the pill, which can sometimes make it seem like the risk is higher than it actually is. If you search terms like ‘birth control pill blood clotting,’ you’ll likely come across many personal stories from people who’ve experienced blood clots while using the pill. Additionally, when influencers like Hailey Bieber share their experiences, like how birth control pills contributed to her mini stroke, it can lead to the impression that these experiences are more common than they really are.
When you come across many narratives that are suggesting the same thing, it is easy to overlook some of the other risk factors people might have that contributed to their blood clots. Hailey Bieber, in particular, is a high-risk individual with a history of migraines with aura, had just recovered from COVID-19, and had been on a long flight at the time of the mini stroke.
Media portrayals and catchy headlines can often highlight dramatic stories without providing important context, which can make rare events seem much more common than they are. Phrases like “people are 3 times more likely to develop a blood clot” can sound alarming when in reality, the risk for an average, low-risk person is around 0.05%, compared to 0.02%, and these numbers are often left out of the conversation. This is why it’s crucial to fact-check information, look for sources that provide a complete picture, and approach sensationalized headlines with caution.
If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
Last Edited: January 2026
The Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education at Ryerson University has put out 2 beautiful and affirming colouring books over the past little while, and we’re recommending them to EVERYBODY!
Friends With Benefits relationships can be tricky. Like, what do yo do if you start to have feelings for them? Don’t stress, because this post dives right into the heart of that question!
It’s common to feel a bit lost or unsure if you’re questioning your gender identity or sexual orientation. Here’s a couple of ideas that might help make Questioning more comfortable!
