Birth Control

Birth Control & BLOOD CLOTS What You Need To Know... The FDA concludes that birth control pill Yaz and non-oral contraception NuvaRing are linked with an increased risk of death, blood clots and strokes. 50 NuvaRing DEATHS 11,900 950 6.5x LAWSUITS LAWSUITS 14,000 HIGHER RISK FOR BLOOD CLOTS PLAINTIFFS Dangerous Side Effects DVT (Deep Venous Thromboses) and Embolism A Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein. DVT predominantly occur in the legs and may have no symptoms. The non-specific signs of DVT include pain, swelling, redness, warmness and engorged superficial veins in the leg. The most serious complication is when a thrombosis dislodges (embolizes) and travels to the lungs to become a life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT formation typically begins in the calves, inside vein valves, where the blood is relatively oxygen deprived. YAZ YAZ 4 In 2011, Yasmin was the no. 4 oral contraceptive in the U.S.. 11,900 LAWSUITS As of April 18, Bayer faced 11,900 lawsuits over Yaz and Yasmin in the U.S. involving about 14,000 plaintiffs, the company said. 14,000 PLAINTIFFS 50 Lawyers suing the drugmaker cited FDA reports of at least 50 deaths tied to the pills from 2004 to 2008. DEATHS NUVARING Since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001 and its introduction into the American market in 2002, NuvaRing prescriptions have risen to more than 4 million in 2006. Women who used a vaginal ring had a 6.5 times higher risk for developing blood clots compared to non-users of hormonal contraception. 6.5 TIMES In October 2011, the FDA released a study revealing that NuvaRing raised the risk of blood clots, including DVT and PE by 1.56% when compared to older birth control pills. 1.56% 950 As of Dec. 31st 2011, 950 NuvaRing lawsuits were pending alleging injuries sustained from NuvaRing use, including some alleged deaths, heart attacks and strokes. LAWSUITS Women should talk to their health care professional about their risk for blood clots before deciding which birth control method to use. Health care professionals should consider the risks and benefits of drospirenone-containing birth control pills and a woman's risk for developing a blood clot before prescribing these drugs. SOURCES: FDA, BUSINESS WEEK, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, MERCK brought to you by BirthControlNews.org Birth Control & BLOOD CLOTS What You Need To Know... The FDA concludes that birth control pill Yaz and non-oral contraception NuvaRing are linked with an increased risk of death, blood clots and strokes. 50 NuvaRing DEATHS 11,900 950 6.5x LAWSUITS LAWSUITS 14,000 HIGHER RISK FOR BLOOD CLOTS PLAINTIFFS Dangerous Side Effects DVT (Deep Venous Thromboses) and Embolism A Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein. DVT predominantly occur in the legs and may have no symptoms. The non-specific signs of DVT include pain, swelling, redness, warmness and engorged superficial veins in the leg. The most serious complication is when a thrombosis dislodges (embolizes) and travels to the lungs to become a life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT formation typically begins in the calves, inside vein valves, where the blood is relatively oxygen deprived. YAZ YAZ 4 In 2011, Yasmin was the no. 4 oral contraceptive in the U.S.. 11,900 LAWSUITS As of April 18, Bayer faced 11,900 lawsuits over Yaz and Yasmin in the U.S. involving about 14,000 plaintiffs, the company said. 14,000 PLAINTIFFS 50 Lawyers suing the drugmaker cited FDA reports of at least 50 deaths tied to the pills from 2004 to 2008. DEATHS NUVARING Since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001 and its introduction into the American market in 2002, NuvaRing prescriptions have risen to more than 4 million in 2006. Women who used a vaginal ring had a 6.5 times higher risk for developing blood clots compared to non-users of hormonal contraception. 6.5 TIMES In October 2011, the FDA released a study revealing that NuvaRing raised the risk of blood clots, including DVT and PE by 1.56% when compared to older birth control pills. 1.56% 950 As of Dec. 31st 2011, 950 NuvaRing lawsuits were pending alleging injuries sustained from NuvaRing use, including some alleged deaths, heart attacks and strokes. LAWSUITS Women should talk to their health care professional about their risk for blood clots before deciding which birth control method to use. Health care professionals should consider the risks and benefits of drospirenone-containing birth control pills and a woman's risk for developing a blood clot before prescribing these drugs. SOURCES: FDA, BUSINESS WEEK, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM, BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, MERCK brought to you by BirthControlNews.org