An array of side effects have been associated with the use of Yaz and the generic Ocella. These include:
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Breast Cancer
- Death
All oral contraceptives produce an increased risk to women of abnormal blood clots, but Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella present higher risks than do other birth control pills on the market. All contraceptive drugs contain ethinylestradiol, which is a synthetic form of estrogen first approved for use by the FDA in 1943. It is widely regarded as medically safe, and only occasionally produces minor side effects.
Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are unique in that a single pill contains 3 milligrams of a synthetic progestin known as drospirenone, which is not used in other oral contraceptive medicines. Drospirenone is believed to be the cause of a higher risk of blood clots associated with the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.
Drospirenone acts as a diuretic resulting in lower water retention among women who take Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. Reduced water in the bloodstream coupled with elevated levels of potassium may be the cause of increased risks of blood clots. |
