Hormone therapies and venous thromboembolism: where are we now?

Deep vein thrombosis is a common disease, with an incidence of one to three per 1000 individuals per year [1]. Numerous risk factors are known, which can be divided into genetic and acquired [2]. One of the most well-known acquired risk factors is the use of female hormones, i.e. oral contraceptive use or the use of hormone replacement therapy. Apart from the use of hormones orally, other routes of administration are also available, e.g. intrauterine devices, injectables, subcutaneous implants, or skin patches. While most research regarding the risk of venous thrombosis has been conducted on oral hormone use, an increasing number of studies are focusing on the thrombotic effect of these alternative routes of administration. Here, we will review the current knowledge on the risk of venous thrombosis associated with premenopausal hormone use for contraception and with postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. The impact of hormone use for women who have an increased risk for venous thrombosis will be discussed. These include carriers of thrombophilia, women with a positive family history of venous thrombosis, and women who have experienced venous thrombosis.