Can Women Receiving Anticoagulants Safely Use Hormonal Contraception Following a Venous Thromboembolic Event?

Because use of combination estrogen-progestin contraceptives raises risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), these methods are considered to be contraindicated in women with personal histories of VTE. Using data derived from a manufacturer-supported trial of the oral anticoagulant rivaroxaban versus subcutaneous enoxaparin (low-molecular-weight heparin) followed by Coumadin or another vitamin K antagonist (VKA), investigators assessed recurrent VTE and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in 1888 women aged <60 (mean age, 41) stratified by use or nonuse of hormonal contraceptives. During the study period, 1413 participants did not use hormonal contraception and 475 did so (306 combination, 217 progestin-only).

Incidence of recurrent VTE in women wh…