Birth Control Lawsuits

Various types of birth control have been linked in studies and lawsuits to serious health complications, including blood clots and pseudotumors. Some class action birth control lawsuits have resulted in settlements with the plaintiffs. Other lawsuits are just getting underway.

Birth control (sometimes called contraception) is a means of preventing pregnancy by stopping ovulation from occurring. Some birth control is also prescribed to treat other conditions, such as irregular menstruation, acne, endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Many medical forms of birth control involve hormonal ingredients, some of which are synthetic and may be linked to an increased risk of blood clots.

Among the types of hormonal birth control are pills, injections, rings implanted in the vagina, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Drospirenone is a synthetic version of the progesterone (progestin) hormone used in combination with ethinyl estradiol in oral contraceptives. Contraceptive pills that carry drospirenone are known as newer generation contraceptives. Older oral contraceptives do not contain drospirenone.

In 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about drospirenone, noting that birth control pills that contained drospirenone "may be associated with a higher risk for blood clots than other progestin-containing pills." When it made the warning, the FDA noted that the studies it relied on did not account for patient characteristics that could affect the risk of blood clots.

Some studies have linked drospirenone to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis and gall bladder disease.

Oral contraceptives that contain drospirenone:

• Yaz
• Yasmin
• Ocella
• Safyral
• Beyaz

Lawsuits have been filed against the makers of newer generation birth control pills, alleging women were not properly warned about the increased risks associated with the contraceptives.

Some birth control, such as Mirena, is an intrauterine device (IUD) that is inserted directly into the uterus where it releases levonorgestrel, a synthetic hormone that prevents pregnancy. Complications associated with Mirena reportedly include uterine perforation, device expulsion or dislocation, vaginal hemorrhage, or pelvic inflammatory disease.

Levonorgestrel, the synthetic hormone in Mirena, has been linked to an increased risk of pseudotumor cerebri (also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension) a condition involving high blood pressure in the skull. Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include moderate to severe headaches, ringing in the ears, nausea, impaired vision, and pain in the neck or shoulder.

NuvaRing is a birth control device that is placed near the cervix and releases the synthetic hormones etongestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It has been linked to an increased risk of blood clot compared to older contraceptives.

Lawsuits have been filed against the makers of various contraceptives, alleging women were not adequately warned about the risks associated with the birth control. Some, such as class action lawsuits filed concerning Yasmin and Yaz, resulted in settlements. Others are working their way through the courts.

Although there are still drospirenone lawsuits pending in court, in 2012, Bayer AG, maker of Yaz/Yasmin, announced settlements in approximately 650 lawsuits, for a total of $142 million. In 2013, Bayer announced it has settled close to 7,000 lawsuits for approximately $1.4 billion.

As of May 15, 2015, approximately 3,000 lawsuits concerning Yaz and Yasmin are still consolidated in MDL 2100. The lawsuits allege women were harmed by the use of Yaz or Yasmin and were not properly warned about the risk.

As of May 15, 2015, approximately 1,200 Mirena lawsuits are consolidated for pretrial proceedings in MDL 2434. Lawsuits filed allege women were not properly warned about the risk of Mirena complications, including migration, perforation and abscesses.

In 2014, Merck announced a $100 million settlement in NuvaRing lawsuits affecting around 3,800 claimants. As of May 15, 2015, approximately 1,700 NuvaRing lawsuits are still consolidated for pretrial proceedings in MDL 1964. The lawsuits allege women were not adequately warned about the potentially life-threatening risks associated with the use of NuvaRing.

Birth Control Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

Last updated on Aug-15-18