I can definitely sympathize. One of my sisters is on the pill still, too. Even after our dad's fatal PE 9 years ago and my PE last year (docs still chalk mine up to the pill as I didn't have any hereditary factors).

I heard the same thing about 3rd generation pills being worse for blood clots and blood clot-related maladies ... and I heard that from my hematologist. I was on birth control for years (Ortho-Novum and Ortho Tri-cyclen, which I believe are 2nd generation bc pills) and I had no problems. Of course once I started on Yasmin, I was over the age of 35 and more susceptible anyway ... but still. My hematologist said Yaz and Yasmin are particularly bad.

Good luck convincing them! I'll keep working on my sisters, too!

From everything iI hear is to get off YAZ.

ugh yaz and yasmin are evil!!!!

I would advise anyone to stay away from yaz or yasmin...I tell them my experience..I can't make decisions for people, but hopefully they will take everything into consideration and choose wisely. I have three children so don't use birth control, but if I had to would probably look at something like an IUD or just the plain old condom :)

I got a PE and i was on a 2nd generation bc pill. So they all can cause a PE. I don't have any bc pills are a good idea.

My siblings and parents all poo-pooed me when I suggested that they get tested since I have not 1, but 2 clotting disorders -homozygous for both, and my dad wouldn't be able to drink his precious beer -even though he has already had a PE as well -coumadin for only 3 months.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't mak them drink! Blessings, Teri

I'm on the progesterone-only pill now. Both my sisters are, too, even my little sister who thinks she tested negative for FVL. I say thinks, cos she's always been a little vague about things :-)

First, I don't completely blame your brother and sister for not wanting to be tested. I have 5 half brothers and sisters (same mom) and I'm pretty sure my mutation (factor V leiden) came from my mom's side. But they aren't being tested. If your brother and sister go get tested now and are diagnosed with the factor II mutation they will have a pre-existing condition. This will cause difficulties for health and life insurance purposes. This is actually one of the "moral dilemmas" with clotting disorders and I understand both sides.

progestin-only birth control does not cause an increase risk for blood clots. This includes the "mini-pill", the Depo-Provera shot, the Mirena IUD, and the Implanon implant. She could also consider the copper T IUD, which doesn't use hormones at all. As with any medication, there's horror stories about all contraceptives... she won't know how any of these will work for her until she tries them!

Also, give her some facts about PEs. From my doctor: A patient has a 30% chance of dying from a PE, 25% of those patients die instantly. Maybe that'll scare her into taking it seriously.

Good luck :-)

Here's some more info:
http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/6read/6multi/pg/poc1.htm

I forgot to say: My older sister tested positive for FVL first. I didn't bother getting a test and just switched to the progesterone-only pill at the time as a precaution. My GP agreed that as long as I took all the precautions and wasn't planning on getting pregnant that was a good way to go forward.
Later my gyno decided to switch me to Dianette (one of the bad pills) and kept me on it even after I asked for the FVL test and that came back positive. Wish I'd known about this site then!

My 19 year old daughter needed to see her gyn and asked me to go with her. Once I shared my PE diagnosis and told her I was factot V leiden positive she told my daughter no bc pills and recommended she be tested. Since we were discussing genes I asked the gyn about my daughter's risk for breast cancer. When diagnosed I asked about genetic testing for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2, My onolocgist did not think it was neccesary at the time because there was no known family history. However I told him if my daughter ever needed me to be tested then I would. My daughter's gyn has indicated she should also be tested for BRCA 1 and BRCA 2. She told my daughter she would not even consider allowing any hormone if she tested positive for both. I have decided to contact a genetic counselor and discuss my options for being testing for the breast cancer genes and my daughter for the blood disorders and the breast cancer genes. The last thing I want is for my daughter to be positive for either one. But feel that knowledge is power. Our GP is against testing for insurance reasons. I do understand this but having a disorder or possible gene mutation and not knowing it can be worse.