Women’s Issues

Not only do women face specific risk factors for blood clots (use of estrogen for birth control or the treatment of menopause, and pregnancy and childbirth), but we also face specific concerns, or potential issues, after blood clots. During my recovery journey, I have been impacted by heavy menstruation, low self-esteem, and choices surrounding birth control options.

Anticoagulants or blood thinners as they are commonly called can cause some, but not all, women to experience a heavier-than-normal monthly menstrual cycle. This can be devastating to deal with, but there are options to help you manage it. Some women may choose to take or use birth control without estrogen or have a surgical procedure if they are no longer planning to have children to reduce or eliminate bleeding. There are options available for most women so it is important to talk to your doctor about your situation. Check out the resources below for tools to help you in initiating those conversations.

Dealing with a heavy or extended menstrual cycle can be damaging to self-esteem and ultimately mental health too. Low self-esteem can lead to feeling depressed, anxious, and even hopeless at times. Recovering from a serious physical illness can already be damaging because if you’re like me, you may already feel a loss of independence, the ability to look or feel how you want to, and the desire to do what you used to. You might be processing the loss of these things or even feeling grief. I struggled greatly with self-esteem after my blood clots, and healing the way I felt about myself was not an easy obstacle to overcome.

Women’s health and blood clots are something that I am passionate about since my blood clots. If you are suffering too, you are not alone. If you don’t like yourself right now or aren’t sure how to feel better emotionally, I think that’s pretty normal. If you’re wondering what birth control you can take or how you can best plan your next steps in life, there are tools to help you initiate important conversations and decision-making with your healthcare team. Here are my favorite resources to help you address women’s issues and blood clots.

From managing heavy cycles to knowing when to contact your doctor about your concerns – it’s all here:

It can be confusing to decipher information on the internet. Connect with the Rowan Foundation for information and tools about birth control and blood clots. Formed by the family of Alexandra L. Rowan after she suddenly lost her life, at the age of just 23, to a massive pulmonary embolism due to hormonal birth control, it’s their mission to help ensure other women know about the risks for blood clots connected to hormonal birth control, are aware of blood clot signs and symptoms, and understand their options for birth control. They are a top-notch and trustworthy resource for women making contraception decisions or who just want to learn more about blood clot risk factors that may impact them. Here are my favorite Rowan Foundation resources to get you started:

Healing is a journey, but small steps add up to big ones! If you’re feeling down about yourself – or even anxious and depressed – you’re not alone! Here are some of my top tips for how to start to feel better about yourself:

Whether you need peer support or help to work through a crisis, there is a connection for you:

Email, RSS Follow