There has been a lot of buzz in the media about Beyaz or Yaz birth control pills and whether or not the compound drosperinone (in the pill) increases a woman's risk of getting a blood clot more than any other pill on the market. Background: All birth control pills and hormones increase a woman's risk of blood clots...BUT, here are the facts.

A woman's risk of blood clot who is not on any medication is 5 per 10,000 per year. For a woman taking birth control, the risk is 9 per 10,000. For a woman who is PREGNANT, that risk increases to 20 per 10,000. You've never heard of a woman avoiding pregnancy because it could increase her risk of getting a blood clot, RIGHT?

So why risk an unwanted pregnancy by refusing to look into birth control pills because they slightly increase the risk of developing a blood clot?

Bayer pharmaceuticals continues to maintain that their birth control pills, Beyaz and Yaz, do not pose any significantly higher risk of blood clot versus any other pill on the market. And I agree that they have been the subject of a lot of unwarranted media hype regarding blood clots and birth control.

The truth remains to be seen, but the FDA announced this week they will once again re-examine the studies to see if Beyaz or Yaz have a higher risk of causing blood clots. Whatever they find, I still think pregnancy carries with it the highest risk of causing a blood clot.

If you are taking any form of birth control and develop leg pain/swelling or chest discomfort/difficulty breathy, call your doctor immediately.

Bayer pharmaceuticals did not have any input into this blog or my opinions.