Yaz Lawsuits Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the Yaz and Yasmin Lawsuits?
1. What are Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, and how are they related?
2. How are Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control pills different from each other?
3. What negative side effects are associated with Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella birth control pills?
4. What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
5. What is a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
6. What is pulmonary hypertension?
8. What is gallbladder disease?
10. If I contact Girard Gibbs, will I have to pay a fee for you to evaluate my Yaz case?
11. How much will it cost me if I want Girard Gibbs LLP to represent me in a Yaz lawsuit?
14. What if I think the statute of limitations for my Yaz lawsuit has passed?
15. Are the cases concerning Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control pills part of a class action lawsuit?
16. I am currently taking one of the birth controls Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella. Should I stop taking it?
19. Have many women reported injuries after taking Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella?
1. What are Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, and how are they related?
Yaz and Yasmin are relatively new prescription birth control pills manufactured and marketed by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally approved Yasmin in 2001 and then approved its sister birth control pill Yaz in 2006. Ocella is a generic version of Yasmin that received FDA approval in 2008. It is sold by Teva Pharmaceuticals.
Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are combination birth control pills which contain both estrogen and progestin hormones, specifically ethinyl estradiol (estrogen) and drospirenone (progestin). Ethinyl estradiol is used in a variety of different birth control pills, but drospirenone is unique to Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.
2. How are Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control pills different from each other?
Although Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella use the same two hormones (ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone), Yaz contains slightly less estrogen than Yasmin and Ocella. Yaz contains 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol, whereas Yasmin and Ocella contain 3 mg of the progestin hormone drospirenone and 0.03 mg of the estrogen hormone ethinyl estradiol.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals manufactures Yaz and Yasmin, while Ocella is the generic version of Yasmin sold by Teva Pharmaceuticals.
3. What negative side effects are associated with Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella birth control pills?
Many women who have taken Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella have reported experiencing negative side effects including blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, gallbladder and kidney problems, pancreatitis, cardiac arrest and even death.
4. What is deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
Deep venous thrombosis, also referred to as deep vein thrombosis or "DVT" is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that is deep inside the body. A DVT typically forms the large veins in the lower leg and thigh and can usually be diagnosed by a doppler ultrasound and/or a D-dimer blood test. Blood clots can become life-threatening if they travel to the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism, or to the brain, causing a stroke.
5. What is a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
A pulmonary embolism or "PE" occurs when there is a blockage of the main arteries of the lungs. In most cases, a PE is caused by blood clots that travel to the lungs from another part of the body - most commonly, the legs - and creates a blockage in the pulmonary artery. When a pulmonary embolism occurs, the lung tissue served by each blocked artery is robbed of fuel and can die, which makes it difficult for the lungs to provide oxygen to the rest of the body. Also referred to as a pulmonary embolus or pulmonary emboli, a pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
6. What is pulmonary hypertension?
Pulmonary hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure in the lungs is too high. Having a pulmonary embolism can lead to pulmonary hypertension after a blood clot in the lungs causes the heart to work harder to push blood through the affected vessels. When the heart is strained in this situation, it increases the blood pressure within those vessels and can wear out a section of the heart.
7. What is a stroke?
A stroke is caused when there are problems with the amount of blood in the brain. Most strokes are known as "ischemic strokes," which occur when the arteries to the brain are narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow. The lack of blood flow causes brain cells to be starved of oxygen and nutrients, and cells may quickly start to die. Common ischemic strokes include thrombotic strokes, which occur when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one of the arteries that supply blood to the brain, and embolic strokes, which occur when a blood clot forms in a blood vessel outside of the brain - commonly in the heart - and is swept through the bloodstream to lodge in narrower brain arteries. A stroke can be life-treatening if not treated promptly and can often have devastating effects.
8. What is gallbladder disease?
There are several different kinds of gallbladder disease including:
- gallstones in the gallbladder (cholelithiasis);
- Gallstones in the gallbladder's cystic duct or common bile duct (biliary colic);
- Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) -- with or without stones;
- Calcification of the gallbladder ("Porcelain gallbladder") -- with or without stone; and
- "Chronic acalculous gallbladder disease" -- A condition where the gallbladder doesn’t move properly.
In most cases the onset of gallbladder disease requires that the gallbladder be surgerically removed.
9. What if I suffered an injury due to taking Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella birth control – do I need to speak with a Yaz attorney?
It is important that you know that the passage of time affects your legal rights. This is because each state has an applicable “statute of limitations” which defines the time period during which legal claims must be brought. Determining when the statute of limitation runs out for any particular legal claim depends on your state laws and the type of legal claim. In all cases, the failure to file a lawsuit within the prescribed time period may result in your legal claims or legal case being dismissed, which would leave you with no recourse. Therefore it is important that if you want to pursue a legal claim you speak with a Yaz attorney about your case and your options.
10. If I contact Girard Gibbs, will I have to pay a fee for you to evaluate my Yaz case?
No. Girard Gibbs does not charge a fee to evaluate your case.
11. How much will it cost me if I want Girard Gibbs LLP to represent me in a Yaz lawsuit?
If Girard Gibbs decides to represent you in a Yaz lawsuit and you wish to retain Girard Gibbs as your law firm, then our relationship would be based off a “contingency fee.” A contingency fee is payment to an attorney for legal services that depends, or is contingent, upon there being some recovery or award for the client in the case, in which case the attorney is then paid a percentage of the amount recovered.
12. What are the results of the Yasmin and Yaz side effects lawsuits so far? Have any cases gone to trial? Have any cases been won?
The Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits are still in the early stages of litigation and have not yet reached the trial stage, and there are no cases that have been won or lost so far. At this point the Yaz related lawsuits filed in federal courts across the country have been centralized into a MultiDistrict Litigation (MDL) named In re: Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation (Master docket number: 09-2100). The purpose of an MDL is to transfer all pending federal Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella cases throughout the country to one judge. The idea is that having one judge hear all similar cases is more efficient and allows the cases to move along quickly to avoid wasting money and resources.
Recently Girard Gibbs’s partner and Yaz Lawyer Ms. A.J. De Bartolomeo was appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the Yaz and Yasmin Multi-District Litigation.
13. I see that Girard Gibbs is located in California and New York – do I need a Yaz attorney from the state where I live?
No, you do not need a Yaz attorney from your home state. While Girard Gibbs LLP has offices in California and New York, we represent women and their families from all across the country. All of the Yaz lawsuits that have been filed in federal courts around the country have recently been centralized into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL), which is a procedure in federal court used to promote efficiency and economy in matters with common parties and legal and factual issues. To facilitate the goals of the MDL process, it is likely that if you file a lawsuit in a federal court, your case will be transferred to the MDL in the Southern District of Illinois, regardless of what state you live in. Girard Gibbs LLP is a law firm with national litigation experience and will be representing women from all 50 states.
14. What if I think the statute of limitations for my Yaz lawsuit has passed?
You need to speak with a Yaz attorney as soon as possible about the facts and circumstances of your injuries. Even if your statute of limitations has passed many states have laws that allow an individual in certain circumstances to pursue their legal claims.
15. Are the cases concerning Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella birth control pills part of a class action lawsuit?
No, the cases concerning Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are not part of a class action lawsuit. These Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella cases are made up of individual lawsuits that have been grouped into what is known as a “mass tort,” which means that many individual actions are filed separately but they are coordinated together for all pre-trial activities. A mass tort is different from a class action in that each individual is able to bring their own claim rather than having one person who sues on behalf of all women making claims. Many people confuse a class action and a mass tort, but ultimately any judgment or settlement is different for because in a mass tort damages are based on each individual's facts, rather than the entire group. Generally speaking class actions are not suitable for personal injury claims.
16. I am currently taking one of the birth controls Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella. Should I stop taking it?
That is a question for your physician. It is our job to assist our clients with legal matters, and we are not qualified to provide medical advice. If you have concerns about the safety or effectiveness of your prescriptive drugs, please speak with your physician promptly.
17. Could you give an example of women who have suffered an injury after taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella birth control pills?
One of our clients, California Yaz User, Susan, was the healthy mother of 3-year-old twins. In 2008, in order to control menstrual pain, her doctor prescribed her the oral contraceptive Yaz. Four weeks and one day after she began taking Yaz, Susan suffered a stroke. Surgeons were forced to remove part of her skull to accommodate the brain swelling, which had already caused her permanent brain damage. Susan was hospitalized for six months. As a result of the brain damage, her IQ has dropped to 77, rendering her mentally handicapped. A counselor had to be brought in to help her twins adjust to the change in their mother. Both she and her family suffer ongoing physical and mental anguish from this event.
Lawsuits have been filed nation-wide by women who have suffered severe side effects after using Yaz.
18. Why should Bayer be held legally responsible for injuries suffered by women taking Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella?
Women and their families represented by Girard Gibbs LLP have filed lawsuits alleging that Bayer sold these medications without disclosing that Yaz and Yasmin had an increased risk of serious injuries. Although manufacturers of prescription drugs are required to warn patients as well as their doctors about any risks of negative side effects, the manufacturers of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella failed to warn patients and doctors that these drugs may be more dangerous than other oral birth control pills on the market. Without full disclosure of the risks and benefits of these medications, doctors and patients cannot make an informed decision about what medication is right for them, and as a result, many women allegedly suffered injuries unnecessarily.
19. Have many women reported injuries after taking Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella?
Yes. Girard Gibbs has been contacted by hundreds of women who have suffered severe side effects after taking Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, and as of January 2010, there have been over 430 lawsuits filed against the makers of these birth control pills. Additionally, a significant number of serious injuries were reported to the FDA's adverse event database for Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella, including more than 59 deaths.
It is likely that the number women reporting injuries will increase as women discover that their health complications may be related to their use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella.
If you have more questions about our Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Lawsuits, or if you suffered an injury as a result of taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and would like to receive a free consultation with a Yaz lawyer, please fill out the form on the right or call toll-free (866) 981-4800.
Learn More about the Yaz and Yasmin Lawsuits:
Lawsuits Filed Concerning Yasmin, Ocella, and Yaz Side EffectsYasmin, Ocella, and Yaz Side Effects: Risks and Health Problems
FDA Yaz & Yasmin Warning Letters
Yaz Side Effects and Blood Clot
Yaz Side Effects and Stroke
Yaz Side Effects and Pulmonary Embolism
Yaz Side Effects and Heart Attack
Yaz Lawyer Ms. A.J. De Bartolomeo
Yaz User Suffers Stroke, Files California Yaz Lawsuit
Yaz and Yasmin Lawsuits now part of a Multi-District Litigation
National Yaz and Yasmin Lawsuits Filed Across the Country
California Yaz Lawsuits Coordinated by State Superior Courts
Yaz and Yasmin Side Effects Lawsuits in the News
Why Girard Gibbs LLP?
Girard Gibbs is a national litigation firm specializing in securities litigation, consumer class actions and complex business litigation. Girard Gibbs' managing partner Daniel Girard was voted one of Northern California's Super Lawyers in 2007, 2008, and 2009 by Law & Politics, recognizing him as one of the top 5-percent of attorneys practicing in Northern California.
This website is dedicated to providing public information regarding Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella lawsuits and other legal information. None of the information on this site is intended to be formal medical advice. If you have medical questions about Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, please contact your doctor. Additionally, none of the information on this site is intended to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. If you would like to contact our Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella attorneys for a free and confidential legal consultation, please fill out the form on the right or call toll-free at (866) 981-4800.
If you would like to contact one of our Yaz lawyers by mail at our California or New York offices, please write to Yaz Attorney, A.J. De Bartolomeo:
Girard Gibbs LLP - San Francisco Office
c/o A.J. De Bartolomeo, Yaz Attorney
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, California 94108
Girard Gibbs LLP - New York Office
c/o A.J. De Bartolomeo, Yaz Attorney
711 Third Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10017
INJURED BY YASMIN, OCELLA, OR YAZ BIRTH CONTROL? FREE CONSULTATION WITH A YAZ LAWYER.
Please fill out the form below, or call toll-free (866) 981-4800.
Yaz Lawsuits Frequently Asked Questions
- A: Fill out the form on the right side of the page or call our toll-free number (866) 981-4800 for a free consultation with one of our Yasmin & Yaz attorneys.
- A: Nothing. Our Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella attorneys do not charge our clients for bringing a Yaz lawsuit.
- A: If you or a loved one were injured as a result of taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, you may be entitled to financial compensation, and our Yaz attorneys may be able to help with a Yaz Lawsuit.
- A: Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are prescription birth control pills and Yaz has also been indicated to treat symptoms of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) as well as moderate acne. However, the FDA recently found that some of the Yaz advertisements were misleading and overstated what the pill could treat. (See the FDA's Yaz Warning Letters)
- A: Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are combination birth controls that use the hormones estrogen and progrestin. All three birth controls use the progestin hormone known as drospirenone, or drsp. Yasmin (generic name Ocella) was the original birth control pill to use drospirenone. Yaz is similar to Yasmin and Ocella except that it uses less estrogen and is on a 24/4 day pill cycle, while Yasmin and Ocella are 21/7 day cycle birth contol pills.
- A: Yaz and Yasmin are manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and originally developed by Berlex Laboratories, which is now owned by Bayer.
