New Danish Study Confirms Increased Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Yaz / Yasmin Users

A new study published in the British Medical Journal today confirms previous studies that concluded users of Yaz and Yasmin are at least at twice the risk of venous thromboembolism compared with users of oral contraceptives with levonorgestrel.

The study's objective was to assess the risk of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke) from use of combined oral contraceptives according to progestin type and estrogen use. The study included women who were aged 15-49 with no prior history of thrombolic event. The participants were followed from January 2001 to December 2009.

This is the seventh study completed on the relative risk of venous thrombotic events in women using drosperinone-containing birth control pills (Yasmin, Yaz, Ocella) and birth control pills containing other progestins and the fifth study confirming an increased risk (approximately two-fold) in users of Yaz, Yasmin compared to users of birth control pills containing levongestrel (a 2nd generation progestin).