Yasmin birth control side effects

Although originally touted as a wonder drug, Yasmin birth control has been found to cause a number of serious side effects.

When the pill, which is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Bayer, first hit the market, it was praised as helping to minimize symptoms of PMS, as well as reduce acne and facial hair.

But as of March 2012, more than 12,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer by women who claim Yasmin and similar versions of the pill did more harm than good.

Yasmin, as well as all oral contraceptives that contain synthetic progestin, has been linked to side effects that include blood clots, heart attack, stroke, gallbladder disease and even death.

Health Writer Holly Grigg-Spall, author of “Sweetening the Pill or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control,” said that birth control pills can indeed cause serious physical complications, but can also be linked to mental health side effects such as depression and anxiety.

She said they suppress the endocrine, metabolic and immune systems in women and cause vitamin deficiency.

Grigg-Spall said that women need to be better educated about the risks of hormonal contraceptives so that they can consider all of their options.

The lawsuits against Bayer allege that the company failed to provide proper warning to patients and doctors about the increased risks associated with Yasmin when compared to safer contraceptives.