• 28
  • September
    2011

In a statement given on Monday, the Food and Drug Administration noted that it "remains concerned" about birth control pills containing the potentially dangerous drug drospirenone, as they may increase the risk of blood clots.

That statement was made in response to an FDA funded study of 800,000 women which found that women who use birth control pills containing drospirenone are 1.5 times more likely to develop blood clots than women who take birth control not containing the drug. Drospirenone-a form of female sex hormone known as progestin-is included in the Bayer-manufacturered Yaz and Yasmin.

The majority of birth control bills have two types of hormones as ingredients, estrogen and progestin. All birth control pills, according to sources, increase the risk of blood clots. Warning labels inform consumer of this risk.

But as the FDA indicated, it has not yet determined conclusively that products containing the drug increase the risk of blood clots more than other birth control pills. The agency plans to call together an independent panel of medical experts to discuss the issue on December 8.

Part of the reason for the lack of clarity is that studies have provided conflicting information concerning the risk of blood-clots in relation to drospirenone. According to some of those studies, the risk of blood clots is higher for women using pills with drospirenone compared to those who use pills containing levonorgestrel. Other studies have not found any such increased risk.

Consumers who are taking Yaz or Yasmin should be aware of the risks of these potentially dangerous drugs, and the fact that the FDA is currently looking into their relative safety.

Source: Fox Business, "FDA 'Remains Concerned' Over Risks of Certain Birth Control Bills," Sep 27, 2011.