The U.S Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look at a controversial class of oral contraceptives linked to health problems that we first reported on well over a year ago. Here's our story from March, 2010:

• Yasmin/Yaz birth control pill users launch lawsuit

We had started hearing from women across Canada who were taking such contraceptives as Yaz and Yasmin and who were developing unusual problems. Some reported racing hearts and strokes while others had gallbladder problems that in some cases required removal of the entire gallbladder.  
 
In fact, a group of women were launching a class action lawsuit against Bayer, the makers of  these brands of pills alleging they were not adequately warned about higher-than-usual risks for stroke and other health problems.

One of the women was Christine Lovelace, 42, from Halifax. She said that after she began taking Yaz (for reasons beyond birth control), she developed getting heart palpitations,  waking up in the middle of the night with her heart racing, and unusual menstrual changes, with periods lasting as long as 14 days.

Her doctors thought she was suffering from anxiety or entering menopause. They told her not to worry.
Then, in 2009, Lovelace had a TIA stroke (transient ischemic attack, or "mini-stroke").

"I went paralyzed all down my left side and I lost my ability to communicate. It was terrifying," she told us.

After our story, we received dozens of calls and emails from women reporting problems.  Take a look at some of the comments on this CTV.ca Health blog post from Dr. Marla Shapiro:

Since our story last year, the class action suit has been filed, and one of the lead lawyers, Matthew Baer from Siskinds in London Ont., says there are well over 4,000 women involved in the Canadian suit.

Now, U.S officials have issued a statement to say that they are taking a closer look at all birth control pills that contain the progestin drospirenone.

(The brand names of drospirenone-containing products include Yaz (generics Gianvi and Loryna), Yasmin (generics Ocella, Syeda, and Zarah), Beyaz, and Safyral.)

The review comes after two newly published studies suggested the risk of blood clots was higher than in women taking other contraceptives.

Now, there have been other studies have not reported an increase in risk. But according to Mr. Baer, studies not sponsored by one of the drug makers Bayer have shown an increased risk of side effects.

So the FDA wants to look at the conflicting evidence to get a clearer picture of the risks and benefits of this popular class of birth control pills. 

The FDA’s advice to women on any of these contraceptives is to not stop taking the pills without first talking to your doctor.

All contraceptives carry the risk of side effects, including severe ones such as blood clots and stroke, especially in women with risk factors such as women who smoke or have high cholesterol.
 
Yasmin and Yaz were approved by Health Canada in 2004 and 2008 respectively. The brands have been promoted as a contraceptive that can also help control acne as well as the symptoms of PMS, or premenstrual syndrome. Many women take them without reporting health problems.