Yaz & Yasmin Side Effects

Women who take the birth control pills Yaz or Yasmin may be at an increased risk of pulmonary embolisms due to the blood clot risk associated with these drugs. Studies have shown that Yaz and Yasmin can increase the risk of blood clots compared to other contraceptive drugs, putting users at risk of developing a pulmonary embolism or other side effects.

Pulmonary embolisms are caused by blood clots that form in the leg or other extremities—a condition known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVTs. When these blood clots loosen, they can travel through the bloodstream and become lodged in the pulmonary artery, which carries blood from the heart to the lungs. These pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening if not quickly treated with anti-clotting drugs or surgery.

According to a 2011 study published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), women who use Yaz or Yasmin are twice as likely to suffer blood clots as users of another birth control pill. These blood clots can put Yaz and Yasmin patients at an increased risk of a number of serious and potentially deadly side effects, including pulmonary embolisms.

Thousands of women who used Yaz or Yasmin and suffered a pulmonary embolism or other side effects have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of the drugs. These lawsuits have alleged that patients were not properly warned about the increased risk of blood clots and other side effects they faced by taking Yaz or Yasmin compared to another birth control pill.