Nuvaring Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis Risks

Shezad Malik MD JD

Attorney
(888) 210-9693

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According to medical experts, NuvaRing (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring) users are prone to serious and life-threatening NuvaRing blood clots, known as venous thromboembolism, and other dangerous NuvaRing side effects.

Recently medical studies, by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the British Medical Journal, have found that NuvaRing raises the risk of deadly blood clots. The studies demonstrated that NuvaRing increased deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, when compared to older hormonal birth control pills.

NuvaRing side effects include:

Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary embolism
Heart attacks
Strokes
Wrongful death

What is NuvaRing?

NuvaRing is a hormonal contraceptive device that releases a combination of etonogestrel, a synthetic third generation progestin, and the estrogen, ethinyl estradiol.

Merck & Co.’s Organon subsidiary, released NuvaRing in 2001. NuvaRing is a small flexible ring that is designed to be inserted into the vagina once a month. NuvaRing prevents pregnancy by releasing controlled amounts of those hormones into the bloodstream.

FDA October 2011 Study

A FDA-funded study that involved 800,000 American women using some form birth control between 2001 and 2008 demonstrated that using NuvaRing increased the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, by 56% in comparison to older birth control pills.

The FDA study noted that combined hormonal contraceptives, including the etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring, “potentially result in higher sustained exposure to estrogen and hence, increased thromboembolic risk.”

Danish Study

The British Medical Journal, published a Danish study earlier in May 2012, that found NuvaRing users to have a 6.5 times higher risk of experiencing a serious blood clot compared to women who did not use any form of hormonal birth control.

The chance of experiencing a dangerous blood clot was 90% higher among users of the vaginal ring than it was for women taking combined oral contraceptives containing older forms of female hormones. The authors of the report concluded that women would be best advised to use standard hormonal birth control pills.

Missouri Federal MDL Lawsuits

More than 1,000 lawsuits alleging NuvaRing caused serious side effects, including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, strokes and wrongful death are currently pending in a multidistrict litigation before Rodney W. Sippel of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri (MDL No. 1964).

There is still time for young women who may have been injured by NuvaRing, or their families, to file personal injury lawsuits seeking compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. To discuss a potential claim of NuvaRing side effects, please visit our website.