A WOMAN was left bleeding from her bottom after the pill triggered a life-threatening side effect.
She was diagnosed with ischemic colitis, which happens when there is not enough blood flowing to the colon or large intestine.
The 30-year-old visited the ER complaining of tummy pain, sickness and bloody diarrhoea for three weeks.
The otherwise healthy woman had started taking the progesterone-only pill (POP) – also known as the mini pill – two months earlier.
Sharing details of the event in a journal, doctors from the US initially found nothing medically wrong with the patient.
But a biopsy of her colon revealed the woman was suffering from ischemic colitis, a form of bowel disease.
It happens when blood flow from the colon gets blocked.
It’s typically caused by a blood clot in the abdominal arteries, which carry blood to the intestines.
If it’s not treated, it can lead to gangrene – where the bowel tissue dies – and even death, especially if a diagnosis is not made early.
It’s most common in those over 60 who already have heart disease.
The condition is also seen in younger women who take the combined pill, which contains oestrogen.
This is because oestrogen increases the risk of blood clots.
Women who are at higher risk of blood clots are usually prescribed the combined pill because of this.
Experts don’t know why
Experts don’t understand why, in this case, progesterone triggered a clot.
It’s only the second time doctors have recorded a case of someone developing the condition after taking the mini pill.
Writing in the ACG Case Reports Journal, doctors said: “This occurrence, although rare, underscores the need for further research on the impact of progesterone on coagulation, especially concerning mesenteric arteries.”
The woman was told to come off the pill, and within two weeks, her symptoms had improved.
The symptoms of ischemic colitis you need to know
Ischemic colitis happens when blood flow to part of the large intestine is temporarily blocked, usually by a blood clot.
This can lead to inflammation of the bowels and potential tissue damage.
Sometimes, the symptoms of ischemic colitis can come on suddenly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, they include:
- Abdominal pain, cramping, or tenderness
- Bloody stool or rectal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Feeling the urgent need to have bowel movements
- Nausea
Ischemic colitis can be life-threatening if left untreated, so it’s important to seek medical attention if you’re experiencing possible symptoms.
Figures suggest that ischaemic bowel and similar conditions cause 5-6,000 hospital admissions and 3,000 deaths in the UK each year.