A WOMAN was left bleeding from her buttocks after the pill triggered a life-threatening side effect.
She was diagnosed with ischemic colitis, which occurs when there is not enough blood flowing to the colon or large intestine.
The 30-year-old man visited the emergency room complaining of stomach pain, nausea and bloody diarrhea for three weeks.
The healthy woman had started taking the progesterone-only pill (POP) – also known as the minipill – two months earlier.
Sharing details of the event in a diary, US doctors initially found nothing wrong with the patient.
But a colon biopsy revealed that the woman suffered from ischemic colitis, a form of intestinal disease.
It happens when blood flow to the colon becomes blocked.
It is usually caused by a blood clot in the abdominal arteries, which carry blood to the intestines.
If left untreated, it can lead to gangrene – where intestinal tissue dies – and even death, especially if the diagnosis is not made early.
It is more common in people over 60 who already have heart disease.
The condition is also seen in younger women who take the combined pill, which contains estrogen.
This is because estrogen increases the risk of blood clots.
Women at higher risk of blood clots are often given the combined pill because of this.
Experts don’t know why
Experts don’t understand why, in this case, progesterone triggered a clot.
It is only the second time that doctors have recorded a case of someone developing the disease after taking the mini-pill.
Writing in ACG Case Report DiaryThe doctors said: “This occurrence, although rare, highlights the need for further research into the impact of progesterone on clotting, especially with regard to the mesenteric arteries.”
The woman was advised to stop taking the pill and, within two weeks, her symptoms improved.
Ischemic colitis symptoms you need to know
Ischemic colitis occurs when blood flow to part of the large intestine is temporarily blocked, usually by a blood clot.
This can cause inflammation of the intestines and possible tissue damage.
Sometimes, symptoms of ischemic colitis can come on suddenly.
According to Mayo clinicthey include:
- Abdominal pain, cramping or tenderness
- Bloody stools or rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Feeling the urgent need to evacuate
- Nausea
Ischemic colitis can be fatal if left untreated, so it is important to seek medical attention if you experience possible symptoms.
Figures suggest that ischemic bowel and similar conditions cause 5 to 6,000 hospital admissions and 3,000 deaths in the UK each year.
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