Birth Control Patch May Carry Twice the Risk of Blood Clots

The Associated Press is reporting on an FDA release suggesting women using the Ortho Evra birth control patch may have double the risk of developing blood clots compared with women who take the birth control pill.

A new study indicates that that women using the Ortho Evra birth-control patch have double the risk of developing blood clots compared with those who take the birth-control pill, the Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

According to the report, printed in the New York Times, the FDA consider the findings preliminary and are not requiring any additional actions regarding the patch, although they recommend women speak with their doctors about the risk.

In November 2005 the FDA required changes to the labeling to indicate that women using the patch are exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those who used birth-control pills, putting them at greater risk for blood clots and other serious side effects.

Studies are continuing to examine the risk of heart attacks and strokes among women using the patch and the pill. As quoted in the New York Times, Dr. Daniel Shames, director of the division of reproductive and urological drug products at the F.D.A., said that currently there are no differences, but more time, at least eighteen months, is needed to see if a difference appears.

New York Times - Clot Risk for Birth-Control Patch Is Found to Be Double That of Pill

FDA - Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Questions & Answers

Read More - Contraception News from About.com