New Study Involving Birth Control Pills

Posted On: February 18, 2006 by Ronald V. Miller, Jr.

The FDA said yesterday that a new study demonstrates that women using the Ortho Evra birth-control patch have double the risk of developing blood clots compared to women who are using birth control pills. Dr. Daniel Shames, director of the division of reproductive and urological drugs at the FDA, said the risk of a blood clot was about one per year in 10,000 women not using a contraceptive. For those using a hormonal contraceptive like the patch or pill, the risk rises to 3 to 5 per 10,000, Dr. Shames said. This patch is made by Ortho Women's Health and Urology, which is owned by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

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