Birth control pills

In a stable, quiet disease phase, common low-estrogen combination pills can be used in uncomplicated SLE, since in a quiet disease phase they hardly worsen the disease, but an individual risk assessment is recommended

Caution with the following conditions:

• It is important that combination pills are not used if so-called antiphospholipid antibody (lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin or beta-2 glycoprotein) in high titer in blood samples or other risk factors for thrombosis  (reference: Sammaritano LR, 2014)
• Factor V Leiden mutation
• Active nephritis (renal inflammation)
• Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Active vasculitis
• Previous thrombosis
• Heart or lung disease
• Migraine
• Epilepsy
• Among smokers

Alternatives: Gestagen pill Conludag or Cerazette ("Minipills"), progesterone as a depot (Depot-Provera) / P syringe, p-rod, hormone coil, emergency contraception / attack

• Please see a separate page about estrogens and SLE here
• You can read more on the pregnancy page here

Postmenopausal estrogen supplement

May increase the risk of relapse of SLE, but rarely severe. Not recommended if SLE disease is active or antiphospholipid antibody is present.

• It is advisable to weigh the benefits against risk in each case.

Literature

•  Buyon JP, 2005
• Andreoli L, 2017 (EULAR)

• SLE, BINDEVEVSSYDKOMMER.no
• Bindevevssykdommer.no
• Vaskulitt.no