Mother of Three Developed Blood Clots After Taking Birth Control Pills

The National Alliance for Thrombosis and Thrombophilia released a story in December that serves as a warning for women using oral contraceptives, such as Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella. Kim Gronholz, an otherwise fit and healthy wife and mother of three, developed deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (blood clots) that may have placed her life in jeopardy. Doctors determined that the blood clots were caused by Kim’s birth control pill, in conjunction with the fact that she had been physically inactive for several hours at once, while she traveled by plane and bus. Fortunately, Kim recovered after rigorous medical treatment that lasted six months.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where blood clots develop in the veins. The clots commonly appear in the legs, but they can travel to the lungs, which may be life threatening. One sign that you may have DVT is aching in your legs.

If an artery in the lungs becomes blocked, by a blood clot or otherwise, this condition is called pulmonary embolism (PE). Primary signs of PE include marked shortness of breath and chest pains.

The Mayo Clinic has more information about DVT and PE. If you take a birth control pill, and you are experiencing aches in your legs or trouble breathing, it is very important that you seek medical attention immediately.

All oral contraceptives carry some increased risk of developing blood clots, but Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella may be four times more likely to cause blood clots than other oral contraceptives. In recent months, hundreds of women have filed claims against the manufacturer of Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella. Yet, even as hundreds more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the coming months, these pills remain on the market.

Personal injury and products liability lawyers are a critical key to helping injured women receive the care and compensation they need to make a full recovery and return to normal life. In a products liability claim against a drug manufacturer, women who have suffered injury from taking a drug can potentially recover medical costs, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering and mental anguish.