Blood clots that form in the deep veins of a person’s arm or leg can be dangerous. If a blood clot is left untreated, it can grow or break off and travel to the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Each year, up to 900,000 people in the United States are affected by blood clots. Annually, about 100,000 people die due to blood clots.

More than 60 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S. use some form of contraception or birth control. The most common contraceptive method used among younger women, or women between the ages of 15 and 24, is the birth control pill, which is used by 22 percent of women in this age group.

Research shows that the birth control pill can be safely and effectively used by many women, but hormonal contraception in any form is also well documented as a potential risk factor for life-threatening blood clots. Birth control pills increase a woman’s risk for blood clots three-fold, while newer pills pose a risk double that of the older pills.

Blood clots that form in the deep veins of a person’s arm or leg can be dangerous. If a blood clot is left untreated, it can grow or break off and travel to the lungs, which can be life-threatening. Each year, up to 900,000 people in the United States are affected by blood clots. Annually, about 100,000 people die due to blood clots.

More than 60 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S. use some form of contraception or birth control. The most common contraceptive method used among younger women, or women between the ages of 15 and 24, is the birth control pill, which is used by 22 percent of women in this age group.

Research shows that the birth control pill can be safely and effectively used by many women, but hormonal contraception in any form is also well documented as a potential risk factor for life-threatening blood clots. Birth control pills increase a woman’s risk for blood clots three-fold, while newer pills pose a risk double that of the older pills.