Be Your Own Advocate: Michelle’s Story

…smoked, or had surgery, or children. I had been on the same birth control pill for 10 years, and switched to a new oral contraceptive in September 2013. On October…

I Was Dismissed and Sent Home: Autumn’s Story

…DVT. I was sent to two different hospitals, then finally I had emergency surgery to save my life. My only risk factor was estrogen-based birth control. I never got to…

Be Your Own Advocate: Jo Anna’s Story

My first pulmonary embolism was on August 15, 2015. I was on birth control for irregular cycles and began having pain in my lower right side, which I thought was…

The Situation Was Far Worse Than We Realized: Molly’s Story

…clots were caused by the birth control I had been taking for the past six months. But the situation was far worse than we had realized. It wasn’t just one…

I Was Never Warned About The Possibility of a DVT: Alyson’s Story

…growing up, having scoliosis, and being on birth control, I had never been warned about the possibility of DVT or TOS. The surgery was intensive, requiring several days in the…

I Was Overcome With Intense, Debilitating Chest Pain: Nina’s Story

…diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and factor V Leiden homozygous. I had been on birth control for 10 years and doctors believed that contributed to my clotting. Now I won’t…

Continued Shortness of Breath Two Years After My PE: Shara’s Story

…have just formed because I had started birth control pills about six months earlier. Months later, after my grandmother was hospitalized multiple times for clots, they decided to test her…

A DVT in My Arm Changed My Life: Hailey’s Story

…changes. One of those changes was being put on birth control pills. Due to irregular menstrual bleeding, I was switched to a stronger dosage pill. On July 14, 2015, I…

If Something Doesn’t Feel Right, Get it Checked: Tanya’s Story

…the bleeding, I was encouraged to take high doses of estrogen-based birth control pills. Two days before my surgery, I was also given two shots of estrogen-based medication to try…