FDA Will Conduct Safety Review Of Newer Birth Control Pills

By Margaret Hartmann | June 1, 2011 | 4:05pm

Latest

The FDA announced yesterday that it will review the safety of birth control pills that contain the hormone drospirenone, such as Yaz and Yasmin. Recent studies showed women who take the pills have twice the risk of developing blood clots compared to women who take older pills, which use levonorgestrel.

In a statement, the agency said it’s, “currently evaluating the conflicting results from these studies and will look at all currently available information to fully assess the risks and benefits of drospirenone-containing birth-control pills.” Bayer, which makes Yaz and Yasmin, insists the risk “is comparable” to that of other pills.