Literature review paper

The Risk of Blood Clots in Women Using Oral Contraceptives Compared to IUDs Name of Student Course Name of Professor University Date The Risk of Blood Clots in Women Using Oral Contraceptives Compared to IUDs Taking contraceptives is common among women of reproductive age, and contraceptives are of various types, which include oral contraceptives (OCs) and IUDs. Contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy, but they also help to address many gynecologic concerns (Ibrahim et al.,2021). However, the safety of these contraceptives, especially the risk of VTE- venous thromboembolism, has been of significant concern (Galanaud et al.,2020). VTE includes DVT- deep vein thrombosis and PE- pulmonary embolism and is potentially fatal, which results in substantial morbidity and mortality if left undiagnosed and unmanaged. The significance of this study is derived from its clinical relevance in practical patient care and counseling. Since millions of females worldwide rely on contraceptives, offering a better understanding of the risks associated with various contraception types may help to advance patient care and potentially reduce VTE risk (Kantorová et al., 2020). From the literature review, it was established that the relative risk of VTE in women using COCs ranges from three to sixfold in comparison to women with no use of these contraceptives. However, the same cannot be said for IUDs, especially non-hormone-releasing coils, where the risk of VTE is not significantly elevated, with an incidence rate ranging between 6-12 per 10,000 women years. However, IUDs, especially the non-hormonal ones, are not associated with an increased risk of VTE as the incidence rate resembles that of non-users, at around 1-2 per 10,000 women years (Khialani et al.,2020). This literature review aims to address the clinical question: Is the use of oral contraceptives a risk factor exposing women to blood clots compared to the use of an IUD within five years? Methods The method used in this literature review involved consulting various academic databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, and Health Source Consumer databases. It was aimed at identifying several articles retrieved from peer-reviewed scholarly journals that provided a credible comparative probability of VTE in women taking OCs rather than using IUDs. The following terms and phrases were included to make the search more comprehensive: birth control pills, intrauterine devices, thromboembolism, thrombosis, and risk factors. The sample selection criteria were defined very well, which offered much relevancy and grounds to the selected literature. Peer-reviewed journals published within the last ten years focused on a direct comparison of VTE risks between women who use OCs and those using IUDs. This practice is essential to capture the most current and practice-relevant outcomes and forms of medical interventions and contraceptives (Verlaan et al.,2024). Any article that fails to address these criteria was deemed ineligible for inclusion. More detailed exclusion criteria included the studies that were not published in English, the ones that involved only males, or those that dealt with issues other than reproductive health, and the articles that were not peer-reviewed. The quality of evidence of the chosen articles was critically evaluated to determine the conclusions’ reliability. As part of this assessment, the study design was compared, with the preference for randomized controlled trials and extensive study samples since such designs provide the most substantial evidence. Furthermore, sample size was considered, whereby, in most cases, a large sample size yields more accurate result. The methods used in the studies were also critically evaluated to determine the validity of the results, including proper statistical analysis and possible confounding factors, fulfilling Verlaan et al.’s (2024) recommendations. In this way, this literature review compared the risk of VTE between women taking OCPs and those with IUDs and contribute to the understanding of better and safer ways of taking contraceptives in the future. Results From the literature review, five central studies were established that were concerned with the risk of VTE among women taking OCs as compared to those using IUDs. Every study helped shed light on the varying risks associated with these contraceptives. Barros et al. (2024) have provided a comprehensive systematic review focusing on VTE risk with different types of hormonal contraceptives. This investigation aimed to assess the thrombogenic potentials of various con...