Certain birth control pills can raise blood clot risk

Bayer’s Yasmin and 10 other oral contraceptive pills (OCP) must contain serious warning labels because they increase women’s risk of blood clots, US health regulators say. In its latest statement, the Food and drug Administration (FDA) highlighted that OCPs containing drospirenone, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, should carry new labels warning about their potential fatal risk. Observational studies showed that the pills triple women’s risk for blood clots, the FDA noted in its medication safety alert. The Administration’s latest decision about new labels follows recommendations made in December by its appointed panel that suggested using revised warning labels for a number of drospirenone-containing contraceptives. The advisers highlighted that benefits of the class of OCPs still outweigh the risks and suggested a label change to better reflect the potential for blood clots. The FDA suggested women talk to their doctors before deciding on an oral contraceptive. “To put the risk of developing a blood clot from a birth control pill into perspective: The risk of blood clots is higher when using any birth control pills than not using them, but still remains lower than the risk of developing blood clots in pregnancy and in the postpartum period,” the FDA said.