The Birth Control or Contraceptive Patch has been subject to several lawsuits due to their negative side effects. The most common of these lawsuits have been due to associated strokes and thromboembolic risks that result from the hormone absorption.
Not only the birth control patch, but all of the hormonal type birth control products have the risk of causing a fatal or serious thromboembolic event. Recent studies have shown that women who were using the contraceptive patch had a doubled risk of having thromboembolic events as opposed to those women who took the contraceptive pill.
Although, other studies have shown that there is no increase in risk for either the patch or the pill. These studies showed that they had similar risks of thromboembolic events.
Studies have shown that women who smoke and are over the age of 35 have a significant increased risk of having thromboembolism or cardiovascular disease. This is why there are warning labels that advise strongly that women who are using the contraceptive patch do not smoke.
The manufacturer of the contraceptive patch has stated that the patches can contribute up to 60% increase in estrogen levels in the bloodstream of the woman wearing the patch as compared to those women who are taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
A revised label was placed on the packaging for the birth control patch that stated that due to the high exposure to estrogen that the women using the patch receive, that there may be an increased risk of blood clotting.
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