ortho evra and complications

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2004
ortho evra and complications
1
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 9:27am

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Hi, I have a perscription for the patch and was getting ready to try it out for the first time this month when I saw a report on Good Morning America that an 18 yr old seemingly healthy girl dropped dead on the subway. After they did the autopsy, her death was a result from a blood clot that entered her lungs from the birth control patch. After doing some research online, the FDA has recieved 17 reports of deaths and numerous complications from the Ortho Evra patch. I have been on the pill for 2 years,am a non-smoker, haven't had any problems and was wondering if anyone can give me any insight on this issue. I am worried about starting it. Thanks, Lori.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Thu, 10-21-2004 - 10:31am
There is a known risk of blood clots with hormonal birth control that contains estrogen. The patch is in the news a lot lately for causing deaths, so it seems like it's extra dangerous. What isn't in the news is that women on birth control pills die from complications such as blood clots too. Since that's been happening for decades now ever since the pill came out, it's not something you ever hear about. If it was publicized every time a woman died because of her birth control pills, then they would seem extremely dangerous too. If you're able to take the pill, then changing to the patch shouldn't change your risk, or at least there is no evidence so far of a higher risk factor. If you are a nonsmoker without any known risk factors, then your chances of anything happening are very low.