Ala. Woman Sues Merck for NuvaRing Side Effects

Alabama plaintiff Bettye Spence is suing Merck & Co. for the injuries she allegedly sustained from using their birth control product, the NuvaRing. Spence alleges that as a direct result of using the NuvaRing, she suffered a pulmonary embolism.

According to the NuvaRing lawsuit, Spence was first prescribed the NuvaRing for contraceptive purposes sometime in June 2010. The product had been inserted normally, and she experienced no complications for the first few months. However, on Aug. 25, 2010, the plaintiff was sent to the emergency room and was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. She reportedly currently requires follow-up care, and continues to incur medical expenses.

Spence did not file this NuvaRing lawsuit for two years because she was allegedly unaware that the pulmonary embolism may have been induced by her birth control product. According to the complaint, neither she nor her physician was aware that pulmonary embolism was a potential NuvaRing side effect. Spence states that if she had been aware of these side effects, she never would have used the product.

Overview of NuvaRing Complications

The NuvaRing works by releasing a hormone concoction of ethinyl estradiol and etonogestrel through the vaginal walls directly into the bloodstream. The hormones prevent ovulation prevent pregnancy. The NuvaRing is a monthly contraceptive, only needing to be switched out once every four weeks. This convenience makes the NuvaRing among one of the most popularly-used contraceptives in the United States.

Despite its popularity, various injury reports submitted to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the past few years. In October 2003, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine observed the side effects in patients who used the NuvaRing and compared them with subjects who had used other contraceptives. The study found that NuvaRing complications included stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. These NuvaRing complications are similar to complications reported with other hormonal contraceptives. These findings contradicted the NuvaRing’s warning label only suggests that adverse reactions occur when this product is used in conjunction with oral contraceptives.

This NuvaRing lawsuit is Bettye Spence vs. Merck & Co., Case No. 0:13-cv-02962-DWF-TNL, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

File a NuvaRing Lawsuit Today

If you took NuvaRing after Jan. 1, 2011, and suffered deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, you may qualify for compensation. Please visit the NuvaRing Birth Control Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned NuvaRing lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The NuvaRing attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.