Contraception, vaccination and coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: correspondence

Article information

Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2022;65(3):279-280

Publication date (electronic) : 2022 March 18

doi : https://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.22045

Pathum Sookaromdee, PhD¹, Viroj Wiwanitkit, MD²

¹Private Academic Consultant, Bangkok, Thailand

²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. D.Y. Patil University, Pune, India

Corresponding author: Pathum Sookaromdee, PhD, Private Academic Consultant, 11 Bangkok 112, Bangkok 103300, Thailand, E-mail: pathumsook@gmail.com

Received 2022 January 27; Revised 2022 March 7; Accepted 2022 March 10.

Dear Editor, we would like to discuss the publication entitled “Contraception in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: recommendations from the Korean society of contraception and reproductive health” [1]. Lee et al. [1] mentioned that “rare form of thrombosis has been reported in people who received the COVID-19 vaccine, most of whom were women younger than 50 years of age… of guidelines for the use of hormonal contraceptives in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic is necessary”. We agree that the COVID-19 vaccine can have adverse effects. The question regarding risks related to contraception is an interesting one. We agree that the usefulness and benefit of vaccination are superior to the risk. Regarding thrombosis in a COVID-19 vaccine recipient who uses contraception, there might be some previous reports. However, it should be noted that most studies lack data on the pre-vaccination status of the patient. Patients with a history of contraceptive drug use might have underlying diseases that can lead to thrombosis. It should also be noted that not all thromboses that occur after vaccination are caused by vaccination. The patient might have other medical problems leading to thrombosis [2]. Considering the pathogenesis of thrombosis, an important mechanism is increased blood viscosity [3]. Focusing on contraceptive drug use, increased blood viscosity might be observed [4]. However, the increased level is not high and does not increase the risk of vaccine-related thrombosis. The problem should be a concern only if there is an additional medical illness, such as metabolic syndrome and cardiac problems, in vaccinated women. Therefore, we should reassure the safety of COVID-19 vaccination for any woman with concomitant use of contraceptive drug.