What Are Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella?

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are oral contraceptive drugs—birth control pills. Yaz is the best-selling birth control drug in the United States, and together Yasmin and Yaz earned about $1.8 billion in worldwide sales in 2008 for their manufacturer, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella for birth control, and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne for women also seeking birth control.

Yasmin was approved by the FDA in 2001. In 2006, Yaz, a birth control pill nearly identical to Yasmin, was approved by the FDA. Both drugs are manufactured by Bayer. Ocella, the generic form of Yasmin, became available in 2008. Ocella is currently manufactured by Teva.

What Do Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Contain?

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are combined oral contraceptives, meaning they contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone. Most oral birth controls, including Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, use the same form of estrogen—ethinyl estradiol.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are the only oral contraceptives that contain the "fourth-generation" progestin drosperinone, which is believed to raise the potassium levels in the blood of women taking the drugs, causing complications and conditions that lead to death and serious side effects.

Yaz Lawsuits

Lawsuits filed against Bayer allege that women developed health problems after taking these drugs. It's believed that Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella carry a much higher risk to women than other forms of birth control that are available and that Bayer should have announced stronger warnings about the risks of taking the drugs. It is also alleged that misleading advertisements induced women to take the drugs and exposed them to health risks they would not otherwise have taken.

Are you taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and believe you have experienced side effects or injury related to these drugs?