Manual group Johnson & Johnson, which, among others, owns a pharmaceutical company Ortho McNeil, a few years ago might have been aware of the deadly risks associated with the use of contraceptive patch Evra. According to studies, Evra 12 times more common causes of stroke Stroke - a serious brain injury   and 18 times more likely to cause blood clots forming than hormonal birth control pills Hormonal birth control pills - a modern method of preventing preg .

When Evra has gone on sale for about ten years ago, it became a hit. The world's leading publication called contraceptive patch one of the best inventions of the year, and the doctors prescribed him tens or even hundreds of millions of women. However, with the growth of sales has increased the number of cases when Evra cause serious damage to health or even death of patients. Experts believe that this is due to the fact that when using the patch enters the body a lot more hormones (particularly estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health Which leads to the formation of blood clots) than when a woman takes hormone pills.

Ignored warning

Widespread information about evryi insecurity led to the resignation of many people engaged in the Johnson & Johnson senior management positions. In 2005, he retired vice president of the company, who admitted that he participated in the safety evaluation evryi. According to him, a few years ago there were scientific evidence, saying that Evra results in an excessive increase in the level of estrogen in the blood, but the company ignored the warning of scientists.

Other employees of the company, as well as some scholars suggest that the leadership of Johnson & Johnson was well aware of related to the contraceptive patch The contraceptive patch (Evra) - version of the Surface tablet   Evra risks, but they made the right, from his point of view, the solution - a product will not be sold if to tell people about how dangerous it is.

Some experts several years ago addressed to the Office of the Food and Drug Administration to ban the sale of Evra patch, but a decision on this matter has not yet been taken. Meanwhile, Johnson & Johnson continues to quietly negotiate with the people affected by the use of Evra and filed lawsuits against the company. It is estimated that to date, the company will pay the plaintiffs a total of $ 68 million - a small sum compared to the 1.6 billion that was earned by selling evryi.

Instant Death

Adrianna Duffy was a student of the college seriously involved in different sports and good health when I started to use the contraceptive patch. She had a serious relationship with someone you love, and she wanted to reliably protect themselves from unintended pregnancy - so the doctor gave her Evra patch.

The evening of 28 September 2009, in his own bedroom, the girl who never complained about his health, fell to the floor and died. According to her mother, Adrianna literally collapsed on the threshold of his room; death occurred almost immediately. Shortly after the close of the girl learned that her death could be the production of the patch Evra Johnson & Johnson - a brand that in many countries people trust since childhood. We know that just because of the clots formed as a result of evryi, killed more than a dozen women.

The responsibility of consumers?

In 2006, Johnson & Johnson's placed on the packaging contraceptive patch Evra warning - the text typed in small print, which states that the drug increases the level of estrogen in the body, which can lead to the formation of blood clots, which sometimes pose a serious threat to health and human life. However, relatives of victims of evryi women believe that this information is not detailed enough - at least, she does not quite understand that this patch has the potential to kill a healthy seventeen year old girl.

At the same time, many doctors continue to prescribe Evra - they believe that this is justified as a drug officially approved and protects against pregnancy. However, some experts argue that Evra is not only dangerous to health, but more often than birth control pills, can not cope with the problem - that is, does not prevent pregnancy. Thus, the risks of using this drug obviously greater than the benefits. However, the official ban on the sale evryi yet and, probably, if he will, it is not in the near future. Representatives of Johnson & Johnson continue to argue that, when used in accordance with the instructions Evra contraceptive patch is safe and effective. However, the mother Adrianna Duffy agrees to settle a lawsuit out of court: the money is not returned to her daughter, and a tacit agreement to accept financial compensation could cost the lives of many more women.

Hormonal birth control pills (oral contraceptives) first appeared in the 60s of the last century and in the beginning gave a lot of side effects. But pharmaceutical companies are constantly coming out with new, more sophisticated drugs in this group. Today, they have far fewer side effects, and are considered safe enough.

Of what are composed and how hormonal birth control pills

The composition of oral contraceptives (OC) includes synthetic analogues of female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. The mechanism of action of hormonal contraceptive tablets based on the fact that a large number of female hormones suppress pituitary gonadotropic hormones that normally stimulate the secretion of female hormones for a large amount of the need for the pituitary hormones decrease. Inhibit the secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), the hormones of the pituitary gland. FSH stimulates the maturation of the egg, and LH - out egg from the ovary (ovulation) and the maturation of the corpus luteum, which occurs on the site of the ruptured follicle and produces progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology .

Just pack 21 tablets are usually OK, you want to take every day at the same time for three weeks - it supports the menstrual cycle. Next week is a break in reception OK - open hormonal support causes rejection of the mucous membrane of the uterus and bleeding menstrualnopodobnoe.

All OK can be divided into two groups: combined OK (they contain two types of female hormones - estrogen and progesterone) and progestin OK or mini-pill (they contain only analogues of progesterone - progestins).

Combined hormonal contraceptive pills

The most effective and safe combination considered OK. They are divided into monophasic, biphasic and three-phase. All tablets monophasic OK dosage of estrogen and progestin the same. They differ according to the type and dose of their component products. It includes a combined monophasic OK regulon, lindinet - 20, Jess, Novinet and others. These QA often used for prevention and treatment of endometriosis Endometriosis - a serious problem with serious consequences .

The combined biphasic OK (eg anteovine) the same amount of estrogen and progestogen the amount varies depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. They are prescribed for women increased sensitivity to progesterone and its analogues.

OK These include the minimum dose of hormones and are particularly recommended for young girls, women over 40, smokers and overweight women burdened. These drugs (triziston, trikvilar) also nominated for therapeutic purposes in the menstrual cycle.

Progestogens pill

These tablets contain only synthetic analogs of progesterone. They are prescribed to women who, for whatever reason, estrogens are contraindicated, after 40 years, breastfeeding, smoking. These displays OK for women with increased blood clotting and high blood pressure, as they do not increase the propensity to thrombosis.

The disadvantage of these drugs is their lack of reliability, so today they generally recommend taking only during lactation - OK, you can take these in three to four weeks after birth.

How to take

Independently start taking these pills is not advisable. First, today issued the set of OK, in which the woman can easily get confused and do not take the drug that will suit her best. But most importantly, why you need to see a doctor - a survey to exclude contraindications for receiving OK.

Only after eliminating these contraindications gynecologist prescribe OK.

Side effects

Modern hormonal birth control pills are very well tolerated, but sometimes they still give side effects such as irritability, Irritability - you try to control my temper , Decreased libido, weight gain, edema, allergic reactions. In some cases, can increase blood pressure, worsen cholecystitis.

But the main danger of even the most advanced oral contraceptives (except mini-pill) is thrombosis. These side effects are rare, but may threaten a woman's life, so it's important preliminary examination before prescribing hormonal contraceptive pill.

Galina Romanenko