For the second time in two years, the popular contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin are under fire for health concerns, largely due to marketing ploys that describe the pills as much more than for the use of pregnancy prevention.

Yaz, the second generation birth control from Bayer Health Care, is under particular questioning. The New York Times reported that, "the top-selling birth control pill in the United States, owes much of its popularity to multimillion-dollar ad campaigns that have promoted the drug as a quality-of-life treatment to combat acne and severe premenstrual depression."

However, patients using Yaz have been reporting blood clots, strokes and other health concerns more often than competing birth control options.

"But regulators are finding other faults with the Yaz franchise. The Food and Drug Administration early this year asked Bayer to correct misleading television commercials. Last month, the agency cited the company for not following proper quality control procedures at a plant that makes hormone ingredients."

It's no surprise then that has been served with 74 lawsuits brought by women who charge that they developed health problems after taking Yaz or Yasmin. The company says it intends to defend itself vigorously against the suits. 

To read the full article, click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/health/26contracept.html?scp=5&sq=September+26+2009&st=nyt