Yaz PE (pulmonary embolism) is a condition that develops as the result of a blood clot. In 90% of cases, the clot originates within a deep vein of the patient’s leg. It breaks loose and travels with the bloodstream, eventually making its way into a pulmonary artery. There, it creates an obstruction that prevents blood from traveling through the artery.

Pulmonary arteries feed deoxygenated blood to your lungs. The blood is enriched with oxygen by the lung tissue before it is distributed throughout your body to other organs. If a traveling blood clot lodges within a pulmonary artery, it can prevent blood from reaching your lung tissue. This is called pulmonary embolism. The portion of your lung that depends upon the blocked artery will sustain permanent damage. If multiple arteries become blocked, your other organs may be unable to receive oxygen-rich blood. They too, can suffer damage.

Why Yaz Can Increase The Risk Of Pulmonary Embolism

The risk of blood clots is nothing new to women who are taking oral contraceptives. Most birth control pills that are currently sold in the U.S. contain estrogen, a hormone that encourages coagulation. Yasmin and Yaz birth control increases the risk of clotting due to a synthetic progestin called drospirenone. Researchers have discovered that combining drospirenone with estrogen presents a 6.3-fold rise in the risk of clotting when compared to non-use.

Women who are taking this contraceptive are more likely to develop blood clots in a deep vein within their legs (referred to as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). As a result, they are more likely to experience Yaz pulmonary embolism.

How The Condition Is Diagnosed

Doctors have a number of options they can use to test for pulmonary embolism. Because the condition is difficult to identify, your doctor may need to perform more than one type of test.

The first step is to eliminate any non-PE circumstances that may be triggering your symptoms (i.e. chest pain, shortness of breath, bloody cough, or an arrhythmia). This is done by taking X-rays of your chest. The X-rays cannot diagnose Yasmin pulmonary embolism, but can help your doctor rule out other ailments.

A lung scan can be performed to study the flow of air and blood within your lungs. First, you’ll be asked to inhale a radiopharmaceutical. Then, radioisotopes are injected into your arm. A camera is used to track the tracers as they travel through your airflow and bloodstream. This test, called a ventilation-perfusion scan (or, V/Q scan), has limitations; it cannot diagnose the presence of deep vein thrombosis. This limitation is the reason lung scans are slowly being replaced by spiral computerized tomography scans.

A spiral computerized tomography (or, spiral CT) scan has become the first test many doctors use to diagnose Yaz and pulmonary embolism. A special dye is injected and tracked as it travels through your bloodstream. A spiral scanner creates a three-dimensional image of your lungs and other organs by rotating around your body. A spiral CT is more accurate and far quicker than a traditional CT. Efficiency is important because the dye must be tracked while it is within your pulmonary arteries.

If your doctor is unable to diagnose Yaz PE and has ruled out other conditions, he or she may perform a pulmonary angiogram. It is the most accurate test currently available. Unfortunately, it requires specialized skill to perform and carries serious risks (most notably, arrhythmia and kidney damage).

Should You File A Yaz Lawsuit?

As noted, the inherent risk of blood clots associated with birth control pills is well-known and accepted. However, studies have shown the risk is far greater when taking Yaz. Many women have filed Yaz lawsuits which claim the manufacturer (Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals) failed to sufficiently warn them of the increased risk. If you have taken this oral contraceptive and developed blood clots, DVT, or pulmonary embolism, contact a Yaz attorney to explore your legal options.

Several Yaz side effects are intertwined. For example, the heightened risk of blood clots can lead to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In turn, deep vein thrombosis can lead to Yasmin / Yaz and pulmonary embolism, a condition that is potentially life-threatening. The problem is that many women who have never shown a susceptibility to blood clots are developing clots after using Yaz birth control pills. In fact, the official Yaz website warns women of the increased risk of clotting.

Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Begins With Blood Clots

Most popular oral contraceptives include estrogen, a hormone which increases a woman’s risk of developing blood clots. Yaz is different. It is a relatively new fourth-generation birth control pill that combines estrogen with a progestin known as drospirenone. Recent studies have shown that drospirenone sharply increases the risk of clotting. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, women who take Yaz are six times more likely to develop blood clots than those who don’t take birth control.

Most cases of Yaz PE are caused by blood clots that form within a deep vein in the lower part of the leg (i.e. deep vein thrombosis). The clot becomes dislodged and is carried along by the bloodstream. Eventually, the traveling clot (known as an embolus) reaches one of the pulmonary arteries which feed the lungs.

If the clot is large enough, it will block the flow of blood within the artery, thereby starving a portion of the lung. That will cause lung damage. If multiple clots reach the arteries, blood flow to the lung is further hampered.

Tests To Diagnose Yaz and Yasmin Pulmonary Embolism

Symptoms of pulmonary embolism can be severe, mild, or even nonexistent. Much depends on the size and number of blood clots that block pulmonary arteries. When symptoms manifest, patients will often complain of a shortness of breath, pain or pressure in their chest area, or persistent coughing. They might also develop a fever that is accompanied by lightheadedness and profuse sweating.

Doctors have a number of tests they can use to determine whether a patient suffers from Yaz pulmonary embolism. They will often start with a spiral computerized tomography (CT) scan to identify blood clots that have formed within the lungs. A contrast dye is injected into the patient’s arm to help the doctor examine the blood vessels near the affected site.

A pulmonary angiography can also be performed, though fewer hospitals offer it. A catheter is used to deliver dye to the affected site. Then, X-rays are taken in order to examine the blood flow through the arteries. Though a pulmonary angiography is extremely accurate, there are risks involved, including kidney damage and hematoma.

Doctors can also perform a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scan. This is a type of lung scan that uses radioisotopes to examine airflow and blood flow within the lungs. Because of limitations with doing a V/Q scan (for example, it does not screen for DVT), it is being used less frequently today.

Pulmonary embolism can be life-threatening. Once diagnosed, it should be treated as quickly as possible to limit lung damage. If you have developed deep vein thrombosis or suffered a pulmonary embolism as a result of taking Yaz birth control, consider contacting a Yaz lawyer to review your options. We have experienced birth control litigation attorneys and offer a free no-obligation consultation for women who have suffered from a lung blood clot.

Women with no previous history of blood clots have been diagnosed with Yaz pulmonary embolism side effects while using this relatively new birth control manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. Each year, over 100,000 new cases of pulmonary embolism (PE) are diagnosed in the U.S. The condition is triggered by an arterial blockage within the lung. The blockage prevents blood from flowing into the area of the lung fed by the artery. Over time, the obstruction causes lung damage. There is growing evidence that Yasmin and Yaz birth control increase the risk of developing PE.

Data from the U.S. government ranks pulmonary embolism as one of the most common causes of death in patients who are hospitalized. It is estimated that one out of three patients who have PE will eventually die if it is left untreated.

How Pulmonary Embolism Occurs

In nearly all cases, Yaz and pulmonary embolism is caused by a blood clot that forms within one of the deep veins of your legs. This type of blood clot is known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. If the clot remains within the deep vein, it will hamper the flow of blood. If it detaches itself, it can be carried by the bloodstream. The loose, traveling clot is called an embolus.

The embolus can travel to the heart and into the lung through a pulmonary artery. These arteries feed blood to the lungs. If the embolus lodges within one of them, it will create a blockage, or pulmonary embolism. As a result, the area of the lung that depends upon blood fed through that artery will starve. If the obstruction is not removed, the lung will become damaged.

Symptoms And Diagnosis

The symptoms which manifest as a result of Yaz PE will depend heavily on the number of clots in the pulmonary arteries and the level of obstruction caused by them. Breathing problems and chest pain are common; arrhythmias may present; in some cases, the patient will cough up blood, or blood-tinged mucous.

Symptoms can also be subtle and even limited to signs of deep vein thrombosis. For example, you may feel uncharacteristic warmth or heightened sensitivity within your leg. You may also notice the skin in the affected area is discolored. You should inform your doctor if you notice these symptoms.

Your doctor may perform a number of tests to diagnose whether you have pulmonary embolism, or are at risk. He or she might perform an ultrasound to identify clots within your leg. An alternative approach is to use a computed tomography scan with a special dye; the dye is injected to highlight blood vessels within your lungs. Other tests include an echocardiogram, pulmonary angiography, lung ventilation/perfusion scan, and x-rays of your chest.

How Yasmin and Yaz Birth Control Contribute To PE

It’s worth noting that all combined-hormone contraceptives, including Yasmin and Yaz, can increase your risk of developing pulmonary embolism. They contain estrogen, a hormone that acts as a blood coagulant. When estrogen is combined with the progestin drospirenone – as it is in Yaz birth control – there is an increased likelihood of blood clotting. This is one of the side effects of using Yasmin and Yaz contraceptives. Drospirenone has a diuretic effect, which reduces the body’s store of water. This can cause your blood to thicken, leading to greater exposure to clotting.

Many women who have never shown signs of clotting are now coping with pulmonary embolism as the result of using Yasmin and Yaz birth control. If you or someone you know is suffering from Yasmin side effects, it may be time to contact a Yaz pulmonary embolism lawsuit lawyer. We are currently representing women throughout the United States who continue to suffer from the effects of a lung blood clot.