Lawsuit filed against the Bayer, the manufacturer of the Yaz and Yasmin oral contraceptives

Published in examiner

 

Canadian women have launched a lawsuit against Bayer the makers of the popular birth control pills, Yaz, and Yasmin.  The claimants allege that they were not adequately forewarned about the possible side affects.   Though thousands of women and girls use these two contraceptives there have been reports of racing heartbeats, strokes and gallbladder problems requiring surgery. 

 

Christine Lovelace one of the people launching the suit, says she has been experiencing waking up at night with her heart racing, and unusual menstrual changes with periods lasting up to 14 days.  Her doctor assumed she had entered menopause but last year at the age of 42 she had a mini stroke where she was paralyzed down her left side and unable to communicate.  She was terrified from the experience and once she stopped taking the contraceptives her symptoms disappeared, however she has nerve damage in her left hand and foot.

 

Matthew Baer, a lawyer for the law firm Siskinds LLP representing the women says, "We're hearing about pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and, a more unusual one, people having issues with their gallbladders,"

 

These two birth control pills are very popular among teens and young women.  They have been marketed in being effective in controlling PMS, premenstrual syndrome and acne as well.

 

The Law firm maintains that Yaz and Yasmin are riskier than other birth control pills because of containing drospirenone, which the older brands on the market do not have. Dr. Marla Shapiro provides a different medical point of view.

 

Dr. Marla Shapiro received her medical training at Montreal’s McGill University.  Amongst her many accomplishments she won the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/Canadian Foundation for Women's Health Award for Excellence in Women's Health Journalism in 2006 for her documentary Run Your Own Race.

 

Dr. Shapiro states most birth control pills contain estrogen and progestin and it is the progestin, which is suspect.  Yaz and Yasmin contain the progestin drospirenone. Studies suggests the risk of vein clots resulting from birth control pills containing low levels of progestin is low, but it must be remembered that there are risks associated with taking any birth control pill and there is a reason why certain women cannot take the pill at all.

 

This problem is not unique to Canada, as 1,100 lawsuits against Yaz and Yasmin have been filed in the United States as well.

 

Sources:

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100310/birth_control_100310/20100310?hub=Health

 http://nsb.com/speakers/view/marla-shapiro