NuvaRing Blood Clots

NuvaRing is a birth control device that is inserted directly into the vagina to prevent pregnancy. Unfortunately, it has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots compared to other contraceptives. NuvaRing blood clots can cause severe venous damage or other complications, including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and even death. More than 1,000 women who have suffered from NuvaRing blood clots have already filed lawsuits against the manufacturer.

What is the problem with NuvaRing?

According to several recent studies, women who use NuvaRing birth control have a doubled risk of blood clots than women who use older types of hormonal birth control, non-hormonal birth control, or no birth control. Some studies have found that blood clots occur in about 8 women per 10,000 who use NuvaRing in one year.

The problem with NuvaRing is that it contains an ingredient called etonogestrel, which is a synthetic type of the hormone progestin. Most birth control pills contain a combination of progestin and estrogen. Unfortunately, some progestins are associated with higher risks than others.

Studies of NuvaRing Blood Clots

In 2012, two major studies were published linking NuvaRing to an increased risk of blood clots:

• This study, published by the British Medical Journal in May 2012, found that women who used NuvaRing were 6.5-times more likely to have a blood clot than women who used older contraceptives (such as levonorgestrel)
• This study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, found that vaginal rings were associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of strokes due to blood clots.

NuvaRing Blood Clots

One of the most serious side effects of NuvaRing is a blood clot (also known as a “venous thromboembolism”), which is a sticky, semi-solid mass of coagulated blood platelets. The hormones in NuvaRing (and all other birth controls that contain progestin) can make it easier for blood clots to form.

NuvaRing blood clots are most likely to form in the first three months after a woman starts using NuvaRing. They can occur in women who have no previous history of blood clots or other risk factors. Some risk factors may increase the risk of blood clots, such as smoking cigarettes or being over 35 years old.

NuvaRing blood clots are most likely to form in veins in the lower legs, in a condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). These blood clots can grow very large, and may cut off circulation. Symptoms of DVT typically include pain, swelling, or redness in the affected leg. Large DVT blood clots can severely damage veins in the lower leg.

One of the most serious complications of DVT occurs when the blood clot breaks loose, travels in the bloodstream, and blocks a blood vessel in the lungs. This is called a pulmonary embolism, and it can be life-threatening or deadly.

NuvaRing blood clots can also form in other areas of the body. They may travel to the heart, causing a heart attack, or the brain, causing a stroke. In rare cases, blood clots can also travel to other organs, including the eyes, causing blindness or permanent vision damage. These conditions can cause permanent disability or death.

NuvaRing Blood Clot Side Effects

If you were diagnosed with a NuvaRing blood clot, contact our lawyers today. We are currently accepting new cases from women who have suffered any of the following NuvaRing side effects:

• Blood clot
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Venous thromboembolism
• Pulmonary embolism
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Organ damage
• Blindness
• Permanent disability
• Death