Risk of Blood Clotting with Birth Control Still an Issue

 Posted on December 12, 2014 in Defective Prescription Drugs

Thrombosis, or blood clots as they are colloquially known, tend to manifest naturally in men more than women. Women, however, are at risk for blood clots primarily because of pregnancy, birth control, and other hormonal therapies men do not generally take, according to StopTheClot.org.

Birth control pills are the most common form of contraceptive used in the U.S., and carry a high risk of blood clotting. Women who take birth control pills are generally three to four times more likely of developing a blood clot than women who do not take the pill.

It should be noted that the chance of a woman developing a blood clot as a result of taking birth control pills is still relatively small. Only about one in 3,000 women develop a blood clot because of birth control, but if a woman has a history of thrombosis in her family, the risk increases significantly.

Still, there are some types of birth control that carry a higher risk and about which a woman should be aware. Birth control patches, such as Othro Evra, carry a higher risk because they dispense a higher level of estrogen than birth control pills.

Significant studies have not been concluded about the risks of blood clots associated with newer contraceptive methods such as the birth control ring NuvaRing. According to NPR News, the drug company Merck—the manufacturer of NuvaRing—paid out $100 million earlier this year to settle lawsuits brought against it by women who used the product. In February, a court ruled that 3,800 women were eligible for compensation from the drug-manufacturing giant for not having been “adequately warned of that risk” of increased chance for blood clotting. The packaging for NuvaRing did include a warning that NuvaRing carried a higher chance of blood clots than regular birth control pills, however.

If you have experienced blood clotting as a result of using birth control, of any type, and feel as if you were not adequately warned of the risk—either by the manufacturer or your medical professional—you may also be eligible for compensation. Do not go through it alone. Contact an experienced Arlington Heights defective drug attorney today.