If you are a woman in your child bearing years, then chances are you’ve been presented with the Yaz birth control option by your gynecologist at some point or another. However, no matter who you are, it is also likely that you’ve heard of Yaz in a different way. Yaz is getting a lot of media attention these days, and for all the wrong reasons. There are a lot of health complications caused by Yaz, and they are creating serious problems for the women who take (or took) Yaz, as well as for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the makers of the drug.
What is Yaz? Yaz is an oral contraceptive (birth control pill) that was introduced into the market in 2006. At the time, it was touted as a wonder drug that not only provided women with over 99 percent effectiveness at preventing pregnancy, but that could also be used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and acne.
Negative health complications. The active ingredient in Yaz is a synthetic progestin (hormone) called drospirenone. In scientific tests, drospirenone has been proven to significantly increase the risk of a blood clotting condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Blood clots are not only painful, but they are also extremely hazardous to your health in a variety of ways. When blood clots dislodge and circulate through the body in the blood stream, they can easily get stuck elsewhere, causing things like heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and even sudden death.
Yaz lawsuits. Unfortunately, those women who have been negatively affected by Yaz had to learn about the dangerous side effects the hard way; you can read about it here. Bayer came under fire when alarming numbers of Yaz patients started pouring into doctors’ offices with very serious health complications. Today, there are over 10,000 lawsuits lodged against Bayer, and the corporation has announced to the public that it has set aside over 1.5 billion dollars in anticipation of lawsuit settlements.
Why is Bayer responsible? Of course, there are risks that are associated with chemical birth control risks of all types. The reason Bayer is responsible is that there is evidence to support the belief that Bayer knew about these deadly side effects and purposefully misrepresented them to the FDA to get approval for the market. Additionally, Bayer misrepresented the drug’s side effects to the public with some very elaborate and misleading marketing campaigns.
If you are taking Yaz, or have taken it in the past, then you need to be especially conscious of the possibility that you might be negatively affected by the drug that has devastated the lives of so many people. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your doctor as soon as possible . . . and be ready to discuss your situation with an attorney, if need be.
The Negative Health Complications Caused by Yaz
