If Vaginal Rings Can be Deadly, Why do Doctors Prescribe Them?

By Staff Writer

Every woman that has ever been on hormonal birth control knows the risk associated. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, hormonal birth controls don’t all carry the same risks. The study discovered that vaginal rings (like NuvaRing) leave women at an increased risk of suffering fatal blood clots. Moreover, these women are also at a higher risk of suffering a venous thrombosis, which could travel to the lungs; thus, resulting in a pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolisms can occur at any time (without any warning) and can effect women who have shown no symptoms or other medical conditions.

Because of the results from this study, some people (largely women) have begun to question why NuvaRing is still on the market—especially since there are safer contraceptives available. Moreover, researchers would even suggest that women discuss switching to birth control pills with their doctor in order to lower their risk of fatal side effects.

Vaginal contraceptive rings (like NuvaRing) are impregnated with a cocktail of hormones that release for a month after being inserted. This makes them more appealing as an alternative to the Pill because it doesn’t have to be taken each day.

Recent vaginal ring side effects

According to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), there have been 23 reports of spontaneous suspected adverse drug reactions that are believed to be caused by NuvaRing.

These kinds of reports surface both in the UK and US, where the device has been available since 2002. In fact, over 3,500 lawsuits have been filed, including one on behalf of 24-year-old law student Erika Langhart who passed after two heart attacks that are believed to have been caused by the ring.

Experts conclude that as long as NuvaRing is on the market that women need to be made aware of its side effects. Furthermore, that the statistics of adverse reactions are proof enough of why.

Merck insists that its product is safe and that they ran a clinical trial involving more than 3,700 women.

They do provide, however, a disclaimer on their own website stating that the risk of blood clots is higher when you use a contraceptive with the kind of progestin that NuvaRing uses when compared to the progestins in low-dose birth control pills.

If you’ve been affected by this or any other defective medical product, we urge you to contact an attorney at Gilreath & Associates (…offices in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis) to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible. Or continue browsing our blog and knowledge center to learn more…

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