Did you know?
The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information Act request appear to indicate that in 2004 -- when 800,000 women were on the patch -- the risk of dying or suffering a survivable blood clot while using the device was about three times higher than while using birth control pills.
The Ortho Evra Patch is a product that delivers hormones (150 mcg of norelgestromin and 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol , daily) into the bloodstream. The thin, smooth, one and three-quarter inch patch can be worn on the abdomen, buttocks, upper outer arm, or upper torso (front or back, excluding the breasts).
The patch contains the hormones, as well as an adhesive backing that allows exposure to water without detaching from the skin.
At the end of each of three weeks each month, the patch is replaced with a new one. The week of the user's period, the patch is not worn.
How it Works
The Ortho Evra Patch works to prevent pregnancy in the same way as conventional birth control pills by minimizing or preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to hinder sperm from entering the uterus, and changing the endometrium to reduce the chance of implantation.
The important and apparently dangerous difference in how it works is that rather than digestion and metabolization of the hormones, as with the Pill, the Patch causes the hormones to be released directly into the blood. Significantly higher concentrations of hormones are possible through this method of delivery, concentrations that have been linked to serious adverse health issues and even death.
FDA Review
FDA medical review expressed concerns about Ortho Evra causing venous thromboembolisms , even before they approved the product. They stated: "Post-marketing surveillance for DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis) and PE (Pulmonary Embolism) events will be important, as there are potential serious adverse risks (with two cases of pulmonary emboli in the clinical trials) with this new delivery system for contraception."
Little did they know that these risks would prove to be fatal for many women. Unfortunately, many women have been injured by the Patch in the five years since it was approved in November of 2001.
If you have been injured by the Ortho Evra Patch, please use our easy Contact Form for an experienced Ortho Evra Patch lawyer to contact you regarding your potential case in your area. |
