High Impact

Millions of women have used the Ortho Evra birth control patch since it was introduced in April of 2002. At least 29 women have died as a result of using the patch and thousands of others have suffered serious blood clot related injuries, such as strokes, heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis and embolisms. In November 2005 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), in coordination with the manufacturer, Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, issued a warning that the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch exposes women to about 60% more of the hormone known to cause blood clot related injuries and deaths. Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical knew about the increased risks before the patch was approved, but these risks were not included in the original warning label. To date, the Ortho Evra patch has not been recalled and is still being marketed aggressively to young women across the United States and in other parts of the world.