Colorado Woman Files Yasmin Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuit

Allison Schworm of Parker, Colorado, began taking Yasmin birth control in November 2007 and continued to take the contraceptive pills until February 2008, according to the lawsuit.

On February 23, 2008, Schworm was admitted to Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colorado, and diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage in an artery of the lungs. Pulmonary embolisms are often caused by blood clots that have formed in another part of the body — usually the legs — and have traveled to the lungs. It can also be a complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is the development of a blood clot in the veins deep inside the body, away from the surface. Pulmonary embolisms can be life threatening if they are not treated right away.

When Yasmin, Yaz and the generic version of the oral contraceptive, Ocella, were first introduced to the public, they were marketed as not having the same side effects as other birth control pills such as fluid retention, breast tenderness, weight gain and increased blood pressure. The drugs reportedly provided added benefits like fighting headaches, acne and anxiety.

However, Yasmin, Yaz, and Ocella are the only birth control pills on the market that contain a fourth-generation progestin called drospirenone, which is combined with the estrogen, ethinyl estradiol. According to the Yasmin lawsuit, the combination “has a prothrombotic effect resulting in thrombosis, as well as hyperkalemia and dehydration. These risks are greater than the risks of harm associated with other oral contraceptive drugs containing different types of progestins and the estrogen ethinyl estradiol. Girls and women taking these drugs are, therefore, at increased risk over patients taking other drugs in the same class for suffering potentially life-threatening complications.”

These risks came to light after two studies were released. One was released in April 2002, when the British Medical Journal reported a study showing that Yasmin should no longer be prescribed after 40 cases of venous thrombosis were found among women taking the drospirenone-containing contraceptive. There was another article published in the same journal in February 2003 with more reports of Yasmin complications, including two deaths associated with the drug. There appeared to be an increase in blood clots, which can cause strokes, gall bladder problems, pulmonary embolisms and DVT. In 2003, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) began issuing warnings of the potential risks associated with Yaz/Yasmin birth control pills. 

As a result of her pulmonary embolism, Schworm says she has suffered permanent injuries and disability and will need to have long-term medical treatment as she will have to take medications that come with other high risks in order to prevent more blood clots. Schworm argues that Bayer knew or should have known about the risk associated with Yasmin and did not properly warn doctors and patients about those potential risks.