I have the F5 and F2, but not ABO.<p><i>but if I were a mid-aged woman I would consider an IUD (with or without hormones) as an effective alternative to the pill</i><p>I take the pill as a treatment for severe dysmenorrhea which did not respond to any other treatments. To my knowledge, regular IUDs do not help with that. When I saw the 23andme results years ago, I didn&#x27;t know there were any options beside the Pill for dysmenorrhea. I had to make the choice between continuing to hold down a regular job, and accepting the risk. I probably would have been wise to bring up the test results with my doctors, but I have low expectations of them (revolving door treatment). So I just made the decision on my own.<p>After hunting around, I see there are IUDs that come with hormones that have been known to help with dysmenorrhea: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.uptodate.com&#x2F;contents&#x2F;long-term-methods-of-birth-control-beyond-the-basics" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.uptodate.com&#x2F;contents&#x2F;long-term-methods-of-birth-...</a>
It&#x27;s something my doctors never mentioned to me.<p>I&#x27;m nearing the time when I should stop taking BCP, so I don&#x27;t see the point in experimenting with other options, given I&#x27;ve survived till now (IUDs are usually planned to be used for 1+ years). I did find that I had to switch between a few different types of pills before I found one that had the best effect, and doing this for an IUD would be quite a production, if it even worked.<p>It&#x27;s interesting to me that I&#x27;ve never had a doctor mention to me risks for DVT at all. Doctors ask for a family history (no history of blood clots in my family). Based on that, I guess they have assumed I do not have a high risk for blood clots.<p>Here&#x27;s a relevant quote: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;bedsider.org&#x2F;features&#x2F;168-risky-business-2-migraines-high-blood-pressure-and-blood-clots" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;bedsider.org&#x2F;features&#x2F;168-risky-business-2-migraines...</a>
&quot;Some types of genetic testing can reveal a predisposition for blood clots or stroke (though it’s not clear if a genetic test that shows this predisposition actually predicts that the condition will develop).&quot;<p><i>higher fitness -&gt; lower heartrate -&gt; slower circulation -&gt; clotting</i><p>Interestingly, Serena Williams was reported to have DVT (she had a PE although I haven&#x27;t found a source that said it was definitely from DVT). She had recently had an injury to a foot which required surgery and 18 stitches, and also it happened on a flight...<p>I am reasonably athletic, but my resting heart rate is about 80 bpm. Maybe that&#x27;s something that&#x27;s been helping me.<p>Aside from genetics, the risk factors for DVT are reportedly:
1) Smoking
2) Birth control pills
3) Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone
4) Recent surgery, especially on the legs or belly
5) A long hospital stay involving bed rest
6) Some cancers
7) Pregnancy and childbirth, particularly with C-section
8) Age over 70
9) Obesity
<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.webmd.com&#x2F;lung&#x2F;news&#x2F;20110302&#x2F;serena-williams-pulmonary-embolism-hematoma-faq-03022011?page=4" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.webmd.com&#x2F;lung&#x2F;news&#x2F;20110302&#x2F;serena-williams-pulm...</a><p>Notice they don&#x27;t even mention travel at webmd....<p>So if I get off the BCP, avoid surgery, and die before 70, maybe I&#x27;ll be fine ;)