Stroke in Women - Oral Contraception, Pregnancy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Title:Stroke in Women - Oral Contraception, Pregnancy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Volume: 11 Issue: 1

Author(s): Kirsi Rantanen and Turgut Tatlisumak

Affiliation:

Keywords: Hormonal replacement therapy, oral contraception, pregnancy, stroke, women

Abstract: Stroke is a devastating disease affecting millions of people worldwide every year. Female stroke victims have higher mortality rates and they do not re-cover as well as men. Women’s longevity and different vascular risk factor burden like a larger prevalence of atrial fibrillation play a role. Women also have unique risk factors such as oral contraception, pregnancy, estrogen decrease after the menopause and hormone replacement therapy, which should all be evaluated and taken into consideration in treatment decisions both in the acute phase of stroke and in secondary prevention. In this review, the evidence regarding these hormonal aspects and the risk of stroke in women are evaluated. The relevant guidelines are studied and research gaps identified. Future topics for research are recommended and current treatment possibilities and their risks discussed.

Cite this article as:

Rantanen Kirsi and Tatlisumak Turgut, Stroke in Women - Oral Contraception, Pregnancy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy, Current Vascular Pharmacology 2013; 11 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570161111309010058