Hormonal contraception, stress disorders and cardiovascular risk in women

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, and stress-related psychiatric disorders are considered cardiovascular risk factors in their own right. Hormonal contraceptives, which are used by around 9 million women in the USA, have a heterogeneous cardiovascular effect profile. A retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Network Open in January 2026 is the first to systematically investigate how post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety disorders influence the association between combined hormonal contraception and serious cardiovascular events and deep vein thrombosis.