Nuvaring Problems And Blood Clots

The birth control ring may pose an increased risk of abnormal clotting due to the hormones it contains. These hormones (estrogen and desogestrel) are released into a woman's bloodstream through the vaginal wall. Many women with no history of clotting disorders have developed Nuvaring side effects involving blood clots in the deep veins of their legs. There, the clots (called thrombi) impair blood flow from the legs to the heart.

Sometimes, thrombi form in key arteries, such as those that supply blood to the lungs, brain, and heart. Other times, they form elsewhere and travel into these blood vessels. When they are very small, your body is often able to dissolve them before they cause problems. Larger blood clots, however, cannot be dissolved quickly enough. Instead, they restrict blood flow to major organs, triggering dangerous complications.

Doctors use a variety of methods to diagnose blood clots in the arteries. We'll describe them below.

Blood Clots In The Lungs

Thrombi usually find their way into the lungs after forming in the legs. They break free of the veins, and travel through a large blood vessel called the inferior vena cava. This vessel drains into the right atrium of the heart. From there, clots are pumped into the pulmonary arteries, where they can cause a pulmonary embolism.

Detecting thrombi in the arteries of the lungs is difficult because the symptoms displayed by the patient are nonspecific. They can be caused by one of several disorders, most of which are unrelated to a PE. Your doctor will first examine your medical history for signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) since the condition is a common precursor to pulmonary embolism. A duplex ultrasound may be done on the legs if there has been a previous DVT.

This is followed by chest x-rays, MRIs, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and often, a lung scan (called a ventilation-perfusion, or V/Q, scan). In some cases, electrocardiography may be used to detect an arrhythmia, though findings from this approach are inconclusive.
Blood Clots In The Brain

Nuvaring blood clots can potentially form in the arteries of the brain. More commonly, they form in the heart as a secondary condition stemming from pulmonary embolism. They are pumped into the aorta, after which they migrate into carotid arteries, where they form a blockage and trigger a stroke.

Sometimes, doctors can diagnose a stroke by observing the patient, and noting her responses to commands. When such observation is inconclusive, one or more studies are done to confirm the suspicion. Many of the same tests used to detect thrombi in the lungs are used to identify clots in the brain. Examples include MRIs and CT scanning. These studies are often sufficient for diagnosing thrombi in the brain.
Blood Clots In The Heart

Clots can form in the arteries of the heart, or arrive there after forming inside the left atrium or ventricle. In the latter case, they are pumped into the aorta as described earlier. Rather than traveling into the carotid arteries, the thrombi make their way into the coronary arteries. This leads to a heart attack.

Testing begins with blood tests, chest x-rays, and an electrocardiogram. While the latter test can diagnose a heart attack, it will not detect Nuvaring problems caused by blood clots. For this, a coronary angiogram is usually necessary.

Nuvaring blood clot problems vary depending on where the thrombi are located, and the extent of ischemia caused by them. In some cases, they can lead to life-threatening circumstances. If you have suffered from DVT, PE, stroke, or other serious Nuvaring side effects, you may be able to file a claim against the oral contraceptive's manufacturer.