NuvaRing is a popular internal birth control device, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001 and marketed and sold by subsidiaries of Merck, Organon USA Inc. and Schering-Plough. Currently, over a thousand NuvaRing lawsuits have been filed around the country alleging that female users of the medical contraceptive suffered serious side effects as a result of using the NuvaRing birth control.
In October 2011, the FDA published a study revealing that NuvaRing raised the risk of blood clots, including deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) by 56% when compared to older birth control pills. The authors of the report concluded that the device was linked to “a significantly higher risk of VTE relative to low-estrogen comparators.”
Researchers have long suspected the risk of NuvaRing side effects involving blood clots. A study published on May 10, 2012 in the British Medical Journal described a 10-year investigation that began in 2001. The study revealed that women who used a vaginal ring had a 6.5 times higher risk for developing blood clots compared to non-users of hormonal contraception of the same age. As published on February 28, 2012 in Merck & Co., Inc. form 10-K annual report for the fiscal year 2011, approximately 950 NuvaRing lawsuits were pending as of December 31, 2011. The plaintiffs seek damages for injuries allegedly sustained from their NuvaRing use, including some alleged deaths, heart attacks and strokes.
Many women using this form of contraceptive have developed blood clots in their legs (DVT). The biggest danger with DVT is that clots might break free of the blood vessels, and travel to the lungs. This causes a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal event.
A growing number of women have reported developing blood clots after using NuvaRing. Some have suffered from pulmonary embolism, stroke, and cardiac problems. Nearly 1,000 NuvaRing lawsuit complaints had already been filed against the manufacturer by the end of 2011.
If you or someone you know was harmed while using NuvaRing as a contraceptive, contact the attorneys at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211.