Bayer Facing More Than 1,100 Lawsuits over Yasmin Side Effects

Fullerton, CAPharmaceutical giant Bayer HeatlthCare currently faces more than 1,100 lawsuits stemming from previously unknown side effects of Yasmin birth control pills.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">According to the Los Angeles Times, Bayer passed the 1,100 mark in early February. The lawsuits stem from health concerns ranging from deep vein thrombosis and gallbladder disease to strokes and heart attacks. The Philadelphia Bulletin claims that as of July 2009, 50 women have died as a result of the medication.

A fourth generation birth control pill, Yasmin - also known as Yaz or by its generic name Ocella - is exceedingly popular, though the lawsuits have called to light the serious risks involved with its usage.

In a recent interview with Cal State Fullerton's student newspaper, Michelle, a 20-year-old English major at the university, said she experienced ill effects from the medication almost immediately.

"When I started taking it, I was continuously bleeding. And (my doctor) told me that my body would adjust, like it would stop or level out, but it just kept going," she told the Daily Titan. "Then they gave me a lower dosage of the same thing and I was still having problems."