The oral contraceptive was first introduced in the US in 1960. Within two years, over a million women in the US were taking the “pill” as a safe, effective form of contraception. The use snowballed, and hundreds of millions of women now use oral contraceptives. Some regard it as the most socially significant advance in modern medicine as it gave women reproductive … [Read more...]
Factor V Leiden – What does it mean for me?
What is my risk of a clot? In the general population, the risk of having a blood clot (either a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolus) is quoted at 1 in 2000 people each year. However, the risk is highly dependent on your age. If you are in your twenties the risk is about 1 in 10,000 and if you are over 70 years it is as high as 1 in 200. If you have the factor V Leiden … [Read more...]
How long should I stay on anticoagulants – Coronation Concert Edition
How long you need anticoagulants depends on the balance of risks between having a blood clot and bleeding; these will differ for each individual. Your specialist will decide the length of time anticoagulants are needed in your particular case. This is just a guide. To help you remember, I have added song titles from the performers at the Coronation Concert. I have even … [Read more...]
Coagulation Essentials Quiz
It has been a while since I posted on Coagulation Conversation, but I have a series of posts planned on Factor V Leiden over the next few months. These should help you understand this condition and how it affects you. You may have seen my introductory post about this last year. I have a personal interest in this as it affects my family. However, to get back into … [Read more...]
Carols for clotters
This is a rather frivolous post but it is that time of year. I have modified a couple of well-known carols to bring some Christmas cheer to those of you on anticoagulants. The pregnant women's Christmas lament A Christmas carol to all those pregnant women having to inject themselves with low-molecular-weight heparin during the Christmas period. To the tune of O little … [Read more...]
Warfarin History 3 – six years to find the cause
Like the plot of a movie... Warfarin has been used as a medication for more than 60 years. The discovery of Warfarin is interesting and sounds a bit like the plot of a movie; it includes a president, dead cattle, an attempted suicide and rat poison. Like many scientific discoveries of the last century it involved some serendipity, good fortune, the correct … [Read more...]
