FDA to look at blood clot risk from drospirenone

BANGALORE (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it is reviewing results from two studies that showed there is a higher risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing the compound drospirenone.

The FDA said it is evaluating the conflicting results from these and earlier studies and reviewing the risks and benefits of drospirenone-containing birth control pills.

Bayer AG's best-selling birth control drugs, including Yaz and Yasmin, contain the compound.

The two studies looked at whether there is a higher risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone, when compared to similar women taking pills containing a different compound called levonorgestrel.

The studies showed the risk of blood clots is reported to be up to 2 to 3 times greater than levonorgestrel-containing pills.