Risks of Cilest

The combined contraceptive pill is linked to a number of risk factors that could be aggravated by the pill and increase the chances of you getting some types of cancer or circulation problems.

Blood clots

If you start taking the pill, it can slightly increase your risk of experiencing a blood clot, especially in the first year of taking the pill. Combined pills, like Cilest, contain oestrogen, which is a natural coagulant. Therefore if you have increased levels of the hormone in your system, there is a chance that the blood could clot more easily. If this happens, it can grow and cause blockage of the blood vessels, which could stop the flow of blood to vital organs.

Blood clots can be potentially life threatening, especially if they form in the vessels leading to the heart or brain. If the blood supply is cut off from the heart, you will experience a heart attack and if the blood flow is stopped from reaching the brain, you can suffer a stroke and major brain damage. Blood clots can also be dangerous because they can form in deep veins in the lower legs and break away from the vessel where they travel around the body and become lodged in the blood vessels of the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Therefore, if you have had a history of blood clots or have close relatives who suffer from the condition, you will not be suitable for the contraceptive pill.  Other risk factors can increase the risk of a blood clot whilst on the pill, which include smoking, being overweight, immobility or age.

If find that you experience pains in your legs or chest, blurred vision or difficulty breathing, these may be signs of a blood clot and you must seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Cancer

The combined contraceptive pill can in fact lower some cancers if you use the pill for a long period of time such as ovarian cancer and cancers of the womb. However, on the down side, it can slightly increase the risk of some cancers.

It can increase the risk of breast cancer. The risk of this happening increases with age and the length of time that you are on the pill but will return to normal, ten years after you stop taking the pill. Other factors can play a part and in conjunction with the pill, can cause the risk of getting breast cancer to increase. These include age, obesity or if you have a family history of breast cancer. If you have had breast cancer in the past, you will not be allowed to take the contraceptive pill as it poses too much of a risk to your health.

If you notice anything unusual about your breasts, such as lumps or changes in the nipple or even dimpling of the skin, you need to contact your doctor so that they can perform a full examination to make sure that you aren’t developing breast cancer.

The pill has also been linked to increasing cervical cancer. It slightly increases the risk of this form of cancer and if you are on the pill, you will be monitored closely for signs of cancer. It is important to stress how important smear tests are because early diagnosis of cervical cancer makes the disease easier to treat.

Liver problems

The pill has been associated with liver diseases, which include non-cancerous tumours and jaundice. The pill very rarely causes these conditions but they have been associated with long-term use of the pill. If you notice that your skin is discolored or the whites of your eyes change colour, contact your doctor. Should you experience severe pain in the abdomen, seek medical help immediately.

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