Birth-control patch users face clot risk

According to a recent study, women who use the Ortho Evra birth-control patch are at double risk of developing blood clots than those taking oral contraceptives, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

[Katie Torres]

I don't understand the big problem. EVERY birth control method on the market has a risk of developing blood clots. Its crazy that everyone who has ever used this patch is attempting to get money out of these people. They are trying to protect people from having children whom don't want them. If the idiots who are attempting to sue Ortho Evra would have read the side effect information, they would know.. Hey, This product my cause blood clots. And how many of them are smokers?! THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CAUSE OF BLOOD CLOTS! Read the packages, learn about the product you are using and this damn world wouldn't have this stupid problem.

[tiphany]

Katie Torres wrote:

I don't understand the big problem. EVERY birth control method on the market has a risk of developing blood clots. Its crazy that everyone who has ever used this patch is attempting to get money out of these people. They are trying to protect people from having children whom don't want them. If the idiots who are attempting to sue Ortho Evra would have read the side effect information, they would know.. Hey, This product my cause blood clots. And how many of them are smokers?! THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CAUSE OF BLOOD CLOTS! Read the packages, learn about the product you are using and this damn world wouldn't have this stupid problem.

did you read the part about double the risk? they didn't say that in the beginning, they are saying it now. and if they are admitting to double its probably more like triple or quadruple because they don't want to admit wrong doing or else they are liable for damages. and you know what? women don't decide to trade off possible death in order to avoid pregnancy. blood clots, are not vericose veins, they are very serious and typically lead to stroke, which can result in paralysis or death. the makers admitted "there is a problem with delivering these hormones through the skin", they made a mistake, now they have an obligation to compensate women whose lives have been altered. and its not everyone who has taken it, and i'm sure there are plenty who don't smoke- don't be so obtuse, what are you, 18?

[tea ali]

Turned on the news today and there was a story on Ortho Evra and the risk of clots being more than any other form of birth control...Its about time!!!

[Marquita Holland]

Katie Torres wrote:

I don't understand the big problem. EVERY birth control method on the market has a risk of developing blood clots. Its crazy that everyone who has ever used this patch is attempting to get money out of these people. They are trying to protect people from having children whom don't want them. If the idiots who are attempting to sue Ortho Evra would have read the side effect information, they would know.. Hey, This product my cause blood clots. And how many of them are smokers?! THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CAUSE OF BLOOD CLOTS! Read the packages, learn about the product you are using and this damn world wouldn't have this stupid problem.

I am one of the women that had this "stupid problem". I am young and healthy and I have never smoked. I am also a registered nurse and do patient teaching on the side efeccts of all birht control methods, so I am well aware of what the potential risks are. I have a very good doctor who prescribed the patch to me. After using the patch for only 12 days, I developed a pulmonary embolism and nearly died. I was in the hospital for an extended period of time. The blood clot destroyed two thirds of my lung and I now have chronic lung problems. I would have not chosen this method of birth control and my doctor would have not prescribed it had we have known that there was 60% more estrogen released through this method of birth control and 2 times a greater risk of developing blood clots. My life has been changed for ever. I am not and advocate of people suing over every little thing, but when the makers of the patch hid the truth they need to pay for the long term health effects that women are having.

[Olga]

I am on Ortho Evra patch about 10 month. Never used any birth control before. During this period with the patch I gained 12 pounds and started to have veird simptoms like: sevire hurtburns, headackes and finally a cheast pain with heard of breathing. Then my boyfriend and I went online to see if something about it. We were shocked about stories women were posting and extremely conserned about my health. I called my ginecologist. She strated to deny everything by saying that all these side effects I told her I had have nothing to do with patch. And she told me she can wright me another prescription if I want to for something different. Then I felt really frustrated wih lack of adwise. But this is my life and I desided to take it off anyway as soon as possible. I don't really know much about other methods of birth control and how I gonna react on them, so it's hard to choose what to swich to... I really want to find out more about everything possible.

[Lisa]

Katie Torres wrote:

I don't understand the big problem. EVERY birth control method on the market has a risk of developing blood clots. Its crazy that everyone who has ever used this patch is attempting to get money out of these people. They are trying to protect people from having children whom don't want them. If the idiots who are attempting to sue Ortho Evra would have read the side effect information, they would know.. Hey, This product my cause blood clots. And how many of them are smokers?! THAT IS ANOTHER BIG CAUSE OF BLOOD CLOTS! Read the packages, learn about the product you are using and this damn world wouldn't have this stupid problem.

The problem is its not just a risk its tripled and much higher than birth control pills. It killed 17 women in 2 years. I was on the pill for 10 years and no problems at all and switch to the patch for the convenience and had alot of problems. The original IUD had risks listed and guess what the original IUD is off the market because of related deaths and hysterectomies. Just because they mention something doesn't mean it makes it ok. Obviously something is wrong with the patch. It's just not safe enough to keep on the market.

[Fiona Young]

I am a bit scared. I am 39 year old woman, smoker, who was recommended Evra two years ago after several years on Depo Provera injections (with which I was happy). Over the last few months I have suffered headaches which I am not prone to and over the last few weeks have had major breathing difficulties, like I can't get enough air into my lungs so am permanently gasping as if trying to yawn. Doct said my lungs sounded OK and ran blood tests. I felt better last week then felt bad again yesterday. Lying in bed I wondered what was different then realised I'd put my patch on after a week off. Ripped off patch and am going back to doc this week to discuss alternative methods. A bit scared.