Hormonal contraceptives arterial disease

One of the risks associated with use of combined hormonal contraceptives is venous thromboembolism, but in women without other contributing risk factors the risk of thrombosis is less than that observed during pregnancy. The risk of thromboembolism increases with both age and the presence of other risk factors, such as obesity or an immobilizing illness. There is also a small risk of arterial disease, particularly if the woman has a previous history of arterial disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus or if she is obese. 

Modern oral contraceptives can contribute to the incidence and severity of certain diseases if other risk factors are present. The following conditions are considered absolute contraindications for combination oral contraceptives the presence or history of thromboembolic disease, cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, or congenital hyperlipidemia known or suspected carcinoma of the breast, carcinoma of the female reproductive tract, or other hormone-dependent/responsive neoplasias abnormal undiagnosed vaginal bleeding known or suspected pregnancy and past or present liver tumors or impaired liver function. The risk of serious cardiovascular side effects is particularly marked in women over 35 years of age who smoke heavily (e.g., >15 cigarettes/day) even low-dose oral contraceptives are contraindicated in such patients. 

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