FDA details blood clot risk on birth control pills

Federal health regulators said Tuesday they are adding labeling to Yaz and other newer birth control pills emphasizing that the drugs may be more likely to cause blood clots than older contraceptive pills.

The labeling will apply to Bayer's Yaz, its predecessor Yasmin and similar drugs containing the manmade hormone called drospirenone, which mimics the naturally occurring female hormone progesterone. The drugs are among the best-selling contraceptives in the U.S., due to marketing emphasizing their ability to clear up acne and other hormone-related issues.

The FDA said the new labeling will detail recent studies suggesting drospirenone-containing pills carry a slightly higher risk of blood clots than other birth control pills. The risk of blood clots with either group of drugs is still very rare.

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