The makers of certain third generation birth control pills are facing a massive lawsuit in Great Britain. Schering-Plough Corporation, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, and Organon Pharmaceuticals were recently sued by women who claim that the contraceptive medications caused
pulmonary embolism,
deep vein thrombosis (DVT),
blood clots,
paralysis, paradoxical embolism,
stroke, and even
death.
Both second- and third-generation birth control medications contain a type of estrogen known as ethinylestradiol, as well as another hormone called a progestin. The problem lies in the type of progestin contained in third generation drugs. The newer medications contain desogestrel or gestodene, while earlier versions contained levonorgestrel or norgestrel. The lawsuit alleges that third generation manufacturers failed to adequately investigate the safety of desogestrel and gestodene.
Third generation contraceptives include, but may not be limited to, Mercilon, Marvelon, Tri-minulet, Minulet, Triadene, ED, and Femodene.