Birth Control Pill or Blood Clot: What's Your Pleasure? Do You Have a Lawsuit?

Birth Control Pill or Blood Clot: What's Your Pleasure? Do You Have a Lawsuit? - http://www.notmypill.org

Third generation oral contraceptives like - Desogen, Vilivet, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Reclipsen, and Cyclessa - all contain desogestrel. The ingredient desogestrel almost doubles the risk of life threatening blood clots compared to older forms of birth control.

Desogestrel is used as a female contraceptive. Desogestrel is a progestin or a synthetic form of the naturally occurring female sex hormone, progesterone. In a woman's normal menstrual cycle, an egg matures and is released from the ovaries during ovulation. The ovary then produces progesterone, preventing the release of further eggs and priming the lining of the womb for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, progesterone levels in the body remain high, maintaining the womb lining.

If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels in the body fall, resulting in a menstrual period. Desogestrel tricks the body processes into thinking that ovulation has already occurred, by maintaining high levels of the synthetic progesterone. This prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries.

It is estimated that American women filled more than 7.5 million prescriptions for third-generation oral contraceptives from November 2005 to October 2006. Hip advertising and exotic, fun brand names like Vilivet, Kariva, Mircette, Reclipsen, and Cyclessa attract women who see the ad and want the sense of freedom that they portray while older forms of oral contraceptives (birth control pills) offer as much security against pregnancy and are safer health-wise without a threat of fatal blood clots and cardiovascular problems. In this case - newer drugs is not better.

Women who use third generation desogestrel oral contraceptives should be strongly advised not to smoke due to the increased risk of cardiovascular side effects. Serious risks reported with the use of oral contraceptives include blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks. Oral contraceptives are contraindicated in women with thrombophlebitis, thromboembolic disorders, breast cancer, hepatic or estrogen-dependent neoplasia, cerebrovascular or coronary artery disease, jaundice, or undiagnosed genital bleeding.

On February 6, 2007, the watchdog consumer group filed a petition with the FDA to ban third generation oral contraceptives that contain desogestrel. Use of any type of birth control pill holds an increased risk of blood clots, third-generation birth control pills double that risk without preventing pregnancy any more effectively than older pills.

The FDA has known since 1995 that these desogestrel birth control pills were more dangerous but has allowed them to stay on the market for 12 years. This speaks volumes as to how the FDA cares about women's health.

If you or your mother or daughter takes third generation birth control pills Desogen, Vilivet, Kariva, Mircette, Ortho-Cept, Reclipsen, and Cyclessa, please ask your doctor how to switch to an older and safer pill. If it's too late and you or a loved one has suffered from a blood clot or other life threatening side effect, it's time to talk to a law firm who can help you file a lawsuit. The FDA, healthcare profession, and pharmaceutical companies are not on your side but we are. Please answer a few questions so we can help you evaluate the facts.