RODANAST, P.C.
Attorneys at Law
801 Estelle Drive
Lancaster, PA 17601
Tel: 717.892.3000
Toll Free: 1.888.245.0200
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Yaz (an oral contraceptive pill that is taken every day) may cause weight gain in some women. Approved by the FDA in 2006, Yaz does not have much of a "track record" as a birth control method, but many reports of unwanted weight gain associated with Yaz use have already arisen. Although weight gain on its own is not necessarily a serious problem, it can predispose a woman to conditions such as cardiac and circulatory disorders, diabetes, and stroke.

Women who have experienced significant weight gain or other adverse effects of Yaz can learn more about this controversial birth control method by contacting RodaNast, P.C. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our product liability attorneys are very knowledgeable regarding drug side effects and the legal rights of patients.

A New Combination-Hormone Contraceptive

Yaz is different from many birth control pills because of a relatively new hormone it contains. This hormone, drospirenone, is a synthetic form of progestin. In concert with ethinyl estradiol, Yaz works by preventing ovulation and making the lining of the cervix and uterus inhospitable to sperm.

A Frequent Adverse Event

Doctors and other healthcare providers who have prescribed Yaz have received many patient reports of undesirable weight gain within a short time after starting Yaz use. The maker of Yaz, Baxter Healthcare, is well aware of the weight gain problem with Yaz; the Prescribing Information provided with Yaz packaging states that weight gain was one of "the most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events" associated with Yaz during:

• clinical trials for Yaz as a contraceptive
• acne clinical trials for Yaz, and
• clinical trials for Yaz as a PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) treatment

As Common in the General Population

These clinical trials examined a rather limited number of subjects, just a fraction of the potential Yaz users. If weight gain was one of the most frequently reported side effects of Yaz in the clinical trial subjects, it's bound to be just as frequent among the general population of women using Yaz for birth control or PMDD.

Of course, all hormonal contraceptives have been reported to cause weight changes in some women — both weight gain and weight loss. Every woman's body is unique, and there are many medical and environmental factors that make it difficult to predict whether or why an individual will gain weight from using Yaz.

However, if a woman experiences a noticeable, significant weight gain after beginning Yaz use, she should speak to her prescribing physician or OB/Gyn about it.

Schedule a Consultation with a RodaNast Attorney

If you have experienced troubling weight gain that you suspect is due to Yaz use — whether as a contraceptive or for the treatment of PMDD — contact the law offices of RodaNast to schedule a free discussion of your concerns with a qualified product liability attorney.