If youre a younger woman who is still taking hormonal birth control, youve probably heard about NuvaRing. Maybe your gynecologist informed you about this simple vaginal birth control method, or maybe you just saw a commercial and decided to try this instead of the Pill. Either way, you need to be aware that many women are suffering from NuvaRing side effects, the most serious of which are blood clots that can cause stroke, heart attack, and pulmonary embolism. Its a little scary, and if you had any of these symptoms while taking NuvaRing, there could be a connection.
Whats the Connection?
Since the advent of hormonal birth control, scientists have known that it increased risks of unwanted blood clots. There are several reasons for this. The synthetic estrogen and progesterone found in birth control pills essentially tricks your body into thinking its pregnant. In essence, this sets up a chain reaction of events, and these events raise the risk of blood clots.
The problem, though, is that newer birth control options like NuvaRing, which are known as third-generation hormonal contraceptives, carry about twice the risk of blood clots as their older counterparts. Some researchers think this is due to the new progesterone replacement the pills use: desogestrel. This synthetic hormone has been used for years in Europe, and Great Britain actually issued a public warning about it about fifteen years ago in 1995. However, pharmaceutical companies are continuing to use and manufacture desogestrel, even though studies show that 30 in 100,000 women using desogestrel may experience blood clotting, which may potentially be fatal.
What if Youre One of the Thirty?
If youre one of the thirty in 100,000 or know someone who is, you have some steps that you can take. Many consumer advocacy groups are fighting against pharmaceutical companies using this contraceptive right now because its been shown to be so potentially harmful. Besides this, though, many women who suffered because of this hormone are taking a stand and taking the manufacturers of NuvaRing as well as other hormonal contraceptives that use this same hormone to court for damages.
If you have suffered blood clots resulting in injury or life-threatening conditions or if you know someone who has died because of NuvaRing side effects, its time to take a stand. Your first step is to contact a lawyer who is already familiar with the NuvaRing cases. A good lawyer will be able to help you decide whether or not you have a case.
Dont worry, either, about being able to afford even an hour of the lawyers time. You need to a law firm that works on cases on a contingency basis. This essentially means that the lawyer only gets paid if you get a settlement. If you win several thousand or even a much higher amount, the lawyer who handled your case and filed your claim will take a percentage of that money. Until that point, though, you wont have to pay fees or costs.