Pulminary Embolism

  My wife is a healthy physically fit 32 year old woman. She has had three children and has never had any health problems with the exception of migrain headaches. In January of this year she started taking the birth control pill in order to make her menstral cycle more regular. Everything was great until she started to experience a deep sharp pain in her upper torso that radiated into her shoulder. This went on for almost three days before she went to the doctor. Tests showed that she had two blood clots, one in each lung. It was a devestating blow and now we are wondering if she will have to worry about this for the rest or life and are we out of danger. She spent a week in the hospital and currently taking Cumeden to thin her blood. The doctors say that the blood clots are a result of the pill. Are they? If so, since my wife no longer takes the "pill" will she no longer be at risk for more blood clots providing she stays healthy and lives an active life. Has three months of birth control pill caused irreversable damage? Please help us with some answers.....Thank you...

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

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Dear Todd, thank you for your question.  Birth control pills are a known risk factor for blood clots (which is what a pulmonary embolism is).  Since your wife had no history of blood clots before taking birth control pills (especially during her pregnancies when she would have been at risk for developing clots), I presume that she should not have an increased risk of future blood clots without birth control pills.  Typically, coumadin is taken for 3-6 months after a pulmonary embolism and should not need to be taken indefinitely. If she responds to the coumadin, then she should not have any long-term damage, but I can't determine such an important issue as that in this forum.  For more specific information, I suggest that you speak with her physicians.
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