The risk of birth-control-linked clots is being used to demonstrate the safety of J&J s vaccine.
The comparison is true but can be dismissive of women s sometimes deadly experiences on the pill.
Insider talked to three women who had life-threatening clots on combination oral contraceptives.
On Christmas Eve 2014, Melissa Firicano baked cookies with the little girl she nannied, had her car washed, and watched a movie with her then-boyfriend, Daryn. Then, she had a stroke. I went to the bathroom, and I just fell over and hit my head on the side table, Firicano, now 38, told Insider.
When Daryn, who is now Firicano s husband, called for her after returning from a late-night dog walk, she didn t respond.