FDA Issues Second Warning about Birth Control and Increased Risk of Blood Clots

The FDA recently issued another report about drospirenone-containing birth control pills, stating that they remain concerned about the increased risk of blood clots with the use of these birth control pills.
The first FDA warning about drospirenone-containing birth control pills was issued in April 2010, when the administration explained that the pills had been linked to an increased risk for thromboembolic disorders and other vascular problems. The latest warning discusses the preliminary findings of the FDA’s examination of the two 2011 studies that looked at the risk of blood clots for women who use drospirenone-containing birth control pills; preliminary results suggest that women who use drospirenone-containing birth controls are at an approximately 1.5-fold increased risk of blood clots compared to women who use other hormonal contraceptives.
The FDA recommends that healthcare professionals who prescribe drospirenone-containing birth control pills be particularly aware of the risk factors for each patient when deciding whether to prescribe the medication. Factors that are known to increase the risk of blood clots include smoking, obesity and family history; the FDA recommends careful consideration of these factors before deciding to prescribe if a drospirenone-containing birth control pill. Yaz and Beyaz are two FDA-approved, drospirenone-containing birth control pills that have also been approved for the treatment of acne.