Birth control pills eyed as factor in 23 women’s deaths

CBC News in Canada reports that at least 23 Canadian women who were taking two of the most commonly prescribed birth control pills have died. The report said, “According to documents obtained from Health Canada, doctors and pharmacists say Yaz and Yasmin are suspected in the deaths of the women, who mostly died suddenly from blood clots.”

In 2011, Health Canada issued a warning about Yaz and Yasmin, saying the risk of blood clots, is 1.5 to 3 times higher with the drospirenone-containing pills – which are contained in the subject drugs – than with other birth control pills. According to the report, normally one in 10,000 women on older birth control pills will develop blood clots, but as many as three in 10,000 will develop clots on Yaz or Yasmin.

Records from Health Canada indicate that between 2007 and February 2013, there have been 600 reported adverse reactions and 23 deaths involving Yaz or Yasmin. The youngest victim was only 14. Bayer, manufacturer of the drugs, says it stands by its product.