Many more women who have experienced dangerous side effects associated with the use of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills, continue to file lawsuits against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the Germany-based manufacturer of the drugs.
The lawsuits stem from the serious number of women who suffered heart, stroke and blood disorders following the use of Yaz or Yasmin contraceptives.
Although Bayer has so far paid a reported $402 million to settle Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits, as well as setting aside another $600 million for future settlements, this has not put an end to the litigation, with women still coming forward, alleging that they were not adequately warned about the risks associated with these contraceptives.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioned a study suggesting that Yaz and Yasmin were linked to an increased risk of blood clots due to the use of drospirenone. A study published in the BMJ (British Medical Journal 11/11) found that women who used birth control that included drospirenone – a synthetic version of progesterone (which is sometimes refered to as progestin), had double the risk of blood clots as women using older oral contraceptives.
Lawsuits filed against Bayer allege the company did not properly test the contraceptives before selling them and then failed to warn the public or medical professionals about the risks associated with using Yaz or Yasmin.
Yaz gained popularity in the U.S. after it was released in 2006. In addition to preventing pregnancy, it is alleged that Bayer produced television commercials marketing Yaz and Yasmin as being safer than other forms of birth control available when, in fact, they were not safer.
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