Yasmin Side Effects Life-Changing for Some Women

Dallas, TXWomen turning to Yasmin birth control, or Yaz or Ocella contraceptives, might have been surprised to learn about the risk of serious Yasmin side effects. Although lawsuits have been filed against the maker of the birth control pills, those lawsuits allege women were not warned about the risk of Yasmin blood clots and other life-threatening side effects. They further allege that patients suffered serious, permanent harm due to their use of the contraceptives.

The prospect of a deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism is daunting enough - after all, those are life-threatening conditions. Some women, including one in British Columbia, Canada, reportedly died after using Yasmin. In some cases, the women die within weeks of starting Yasmin.

Even in situations where the women survive their deep vein thrombosis, they may require surgery - such as amputation of the limb - to recover. Other women may not undergo amputations, but could be at an increased risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attacks throughout their lives. Still others have permanent lung damage and must be careful about future activities and exercise.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is a risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in any birth control pill that contains certain hormones. That risk, although lower than the risk of VTE in pregnant or postpartum women, is higher than the risk in women who do not take birth control. One study cited by the FDA suggested that the risk of developing a blood clot when the birth control contains drospirenone - which Yasmin, Yaz and Ocella do - is 1.5 times higher when compared with other hormonal birth control pills.

Lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, maker of Yasmin, Yaz and Ocella, alleging women suffered serious, life-threatening injuries as a result of using the birth control. They further claim Bayer did not adequately warn patients about the risks associated with using its birth control, including the risks of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

According to reports, Bayer has settled thousands of lawsuits without admitting any wrongdoing in the cases. Lawsuits involving Beyaz, another birth control made by Bayer, have not been settled.

Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include persistent, unexplained leg pain. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include chest pain and shortness of breath. Pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis are also called venous thromboembolic events.