Hormone disorder and the Pill tied to blood clots

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who have a hormone disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and who take the birth control pill have twice the risk of blood clots than do other women on the Pill, according to a new study.

"For many women with PCOS, (the risks) will be small," said Dr. Christopher McCartney, an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville, who was not involved in the new work. "For some women, they might be high enough to say we really shouldn't use the Pill, such as for women over 35 who smoke."

The three to five percent of women in the U.S. with PCOS have a hormone imbalance, which can lead to irregular periods, extra hair growth and higher risks for being overweight and developing hypertension and diabetes.