June 5, 2025, 1:46 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Many women take the pill daily—but is it really as harmless as many believe? A new international study has examined whether hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of a specific type of stroke. The findings are surprising and concerning.

Are Hormonal Contraceptives Responsible for Strokes in Young Women?

Especially among young women, so-called cryptogenic strokes occur more frequently. These are strokes where no clear cause is found. About four out of ten strokes in this age group fall into this category.

The new study aimed to determine if there is a connection with certain hormonal contraceptives—particularly those containing two synthetic hormones: estrogen and progestin. These contraceptives—like the classic birth control pill—affect the cycle but can also alter blood clotting in the body.

What Do Hormones Have to Do with Strokes?

A suspicion among researchers: The hormone estrogen can cause the body to produce more substances that make the blood clot faster. This increases the risk of blood clots forming—small clumps in the blood. If such a clump blocks a blood vessel in the brain, it leads to a stroke. The most common form affected is the ischemic stroke, where blood flow is interrupted.²

How Was the Study Conducted?

The study, named Secreto, was conducted in 13 European countries. It examined 608 women and men between the ages of 18 and 49 who had suffered a cryptogenic stroke.

The researchers wanted to identify which risk factors might play a role in this age group—such as hormonal contraception, obesity, or migraines. The results were presented at an international conference in 2025. A scientific publication is still pending.

Some Contraceptives Triple the Risk of Stroke

The result: Women who took so-called combined hormonal contraceptives—such as the classic pill with estrogen and progestin—had a three times higher risk of experiencing a cryptogenic stroke than women who did not use hormonal contraception.

Earlier Studies Show Similar Links between Contraceptives and Stroke

Older studies have already provided indications of such risks. In a recent article by neurologist Laura Elin Pigott on the platform “The Conversation,” a large study involving over two million women is mentioned. The key findings from it:

• Contraceptive patches: Increase the risk of strokes by 3.5 times
• Vaginal rings: Risk increases by 2.4 times
• Progestin-only products—such as hormonal IUDs—showed no increased risk

What Is the Significance of the Results?

Even though the risk for each individual woman is rather low, it should not be underestimated for the general population—since millions of women worldwide take hormonal contraceptives daily. Even a small increase in risk can affect many people.

The new study highlights the importance of good education. Many women are unaware of what exactly is in their pill—or what side effects it may have. For doctors, this means giving better information and more personalized advice.

Additionally, the study shows that research on women’s health is often neglected. There are still many unanswered questions about the long-term effects of hormonal contraception. More studies are needed—so women can make informed decisions about what suits them.

How Conclusive Is the Study?

Important to know: The Secreto study is a so-called observational study. This means it can identify correlations but cannot prove that the pill (or the hormones it contains) directly causes the stroke. Other unknown factors could also play a role.

With 608 participants, it is relatively large for this field. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to confirm the results and better understand how hormonal contraception affects stroke risk.

According to the current status, there are no conflicts of interest: The lead author, Laura Elin Pigott from London South Bank University, has no ties to pharmaceutical companies. The results were presented at a professional conference but have not yet been published in a scientific journal—this should also be considered in the evaluation.³

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Conclusion on the Links between Contraceptives and Stroke

The new study shows that certain hormonal contraceptives—especially those with estrogen—can significantly increase the risk of certain strokes in young women. The individual risk is low but should not be overlooked.

Women should be well-informed about possible side effects to choose their contraceptive method consciously. This requires better education, more transparency—and urgently more research on women’s health.