Genetic clotting disorders and birth control.

Jenna tells her story of experiencing a blood clot and the connection between genetic clotting disorders and birth control.

In March of 2015, I was living in Boulder, Colorado after completion of my M.F.A. degree. I remember standing outside in the snow playing ball with my 140 pound Anatolian Shepherd. That’s when I first began to notice sudden and quite alarming symptoms. These symptoms included dizziness, profuse sweating, and searing chest pain. After calling 911, I was rushed to the hospital, where I was later diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism or blood clot in my lung.

I was subsequently admitted and immediately placed on an intravenous anticoagulant drip. Six days later, I walked out of the hospital forever changed.

At that time, I was not only taking hormonal birth control but eventually decided to undergo genetic testing to determine if I had yet another contributing risk factor. My results yielded a positive diagnosis for Prothrombin (Factor II), a genetic blood clotting disorder. I was placed on an older anticoagulant pill for six months, followed by a daily intake of 81mg aspirin. Sadly, I experienced a deep vein thrombosis or blood clot in my right leg last year, in 2021, and was put on one of the newer anticoagulants for life. Through it all, I remain grateful.