Beware of Increase Risk Due to Some Birth Control

Ricky Bagolie

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Public watchdog Public Citizen hs petitioned the FDA to ban all third generation oral contraceptives containing the incredient desogestrel because it nearly doubles the risk of life threatening blodd clots when compared to the older forms of the pill.

"The FDA must ensure the well-being and safety of women in the U.S. and ban third-generation oral contraceptives containing desogestrel," the petition says. "Women should discuss with their doctors alternative methods of birth control, such as the second-generation oral contraceptives, and how to safely switch contraceptive methods."

According to Public Citizen, banning the pills could save hundreds of women a year from developing venous thrombosis, or blood clots, which have disabling and sometimes fatal consequences. Venous thrombosis typically appears in a patient's legs, but also can occur in the abdomen, arms, veins of the brain and superficial veins. Blood clots are particularly dangerous because they can travel through the veins and block blood flow at another location, causing a condition known as venous thromboembolism. Blood clots that travel to the lungs can cause pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal.

The Pills containing desogestrel are:

Desogestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol
Desogen
Velivet
Kariva
Mircette
Apri-28
Ortho-Cept
Reclipsen
Cyclessa