The flexible vaginal contraceptive insert known as a NuvaRing may be linked to the medical condition called pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

Recent studies have found that women using a form of hormonal birth control including pills, implants or inserts like the NuvaRing have an increased risk of developing PTC as a side effect.

Pseudotumor cerebri literally means “false brain tumor”, as the symptoms are very similar to having an actual brain tumor. Cerebrospinal fluid builds-up in the skull placing extra pressure on the brain, eyes and optic nerves. While the condition is not known to be fatal, it can cause blindness if not treated immediately.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Treatment 

Studies have found that pseudotumor cerebri most often occurs in women between the ages of 20 and 50. In addition, obese women under the age of 44 who are taking a birth control contraceptive have almost a 20 percent increased risk of developing PTC.

Women who develop PTC as a birth control side effect are urged to seek medical attention immediately in order to avoid permanent damage.

If pseudotumor cerebri is suspected, a doctor will order an MRI or CT scan to get a clear image of the cerebrospinal fluid build-up. Once pseudotumor cerebri has been diagnosed, a physician may prescribe a fluid retention medication in order to relieve the pressure around the brain.

If symptoms persist, doctors may then decide to surgically drain the excess fluid in the skull. However, surgery is only performed in the most severe cases.

Medical experts have reported that draining excess cerebrospinal fluid through surgery has an 85 percent success rate of relieving PTC symptoms.

Pseudotumor cerebri symptoms include the following:

• Vision blackouts
• Headaches
• Seeing light flashes (photopsia)
• Blurred or double vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Neck pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Problems walking
• Difficulty seeing to the side
• Forgetfulness
• Vomiting

Once physicians have removed the excess PTC fluid they will often recommend that patients change their diets as a long-term treatment. PTC patients are encouraged to limit the amount of salt, fat and sugar they intake as a precaution of the condition reoccurring.

Birth Control Lawsuits

Birth control manufacturers are facing a growing number of pseudotumor cerebri lawsuits as consumers allege they were never warned of the risk of developing the serious side effect.

In addition to the NuvaRing, other birth controls that have been linked to pseudotumor cerebri include:

• Mirena IUD
• Yaz
• Yasmin
• Implanon
• Beyaz
• ParaGard
• Ocella
• Ortho Evra
• Depo-Provera
• Nexplanon
• Gardasil

In general, a birth control lawsuit seeks to financially compensate plaintiffs for the high cost of treating PTC as well as the pain and suffering they have endured. Those plaintiffs who end up losing partial or complete loss of vision will also seek additional award for the permanent damage of PTC.

Those who have filed lawsuits so far allege that birth control manufacturers downplayed the potentially dangerous side effects of the hormonal medications by not adequately warning consumers.

Contact a birth control attorney to find out if you could join a pseudotumor cerebri class action lawsuit or file as an individual.