Birth Control Pills Containing Drospirenone Could Increase Risk of Blood Clots

Washington, DCThe Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning regarding findings from two newly published studies that evaluated the risk of venous thromboembolism, (VTE), in women who use birth control pills containing drospirenone. The two new studies reported that there is a greater risk of VTE associated with birth control pills that contain drospirenone. This risk is reported to be up to 2 to 3 times greater than the risk of VTE associated with using levonorgestrel-containing pills

The studies looked at whether there is a higher risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing the progestin drospirenone when compared to similar women taking birth control pills containing a different progestin called levonorgestrel. Drospirenone is a type of female sex hormone called a progestin. Most birth control pills contain two types of hormones--estrogen and progestin. Brand names of drospirenone-containing products include Yaz (generics Gianvi and Loryna), Yasmin (generics Ocella, Syeda, and Zarah), Beyaz, and Safyral.

The FDA is currently evaluating the conflicting results from these studies and has stated it will look at all currently available information to fully assess the risks and benefits of drospirenone-containing birth control pills.