Patient's question:
A good friend of mine accidentally took birth control pills, but she has lupus. Can lupus patients take birth control pills?Doctor's answer:
Patients with lupus cannot take birth control pills, as these medications contain estrogen. Lupus may be triggered or activated by estrogen, leading to the immune system producing autoimmune antibodies, which can damage multiple systems and organs throughout the body. Therefore, it is important to avoid medications or foods that contain estrogen. Patients with lupus require autoimmune treatment, which can include corticosteroids or high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.