Keywords
Pulmonary embolism
Risk stratification
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze, in light of the scientific literature, the association between the use of combined hormonal contraceptives and the risk of developing venous thromboembolism in women, contributing to a critical and updated understanding of this relationship from a clinical and epidemiological perspective. Methods: This integrative literature review was guided by the PRISMA 2020 checklist recommendations, with searches performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and the Virtual Health Library databases. Studies published between 2021 and 2026, available in full text, in Portuguese or English, and related to the topic were included. Results: The search identified 312 records, of which eight studies composed the final synthesis. The findings showed an increased thromboembolic risk, especially in formulations containing ethinyl estradiol, whereas contraceptives based on natural estrogens showed a more favorable profile in some studies. Age, obesity, smoking, thrombophilias, and genetic predisposition were also identified as factors influencing this risk. Final considerations: There is an association between combined hormonal contraceptives and venous thromboembolism, although this relationship varies according to the formulation and the user’s clinical profile, reinforcing the need for individualized prescription.
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