In big birth control news, Merck & Co. will pay $100 million for product liability lawsuits that allege the manufacturer didn’t properly warn women of the risks associated with NuvaRing.
Merck has denied any fault in the settlement and continues to state that NuvaRing is a safe and effective birth control option. (Many companies offer some kind of settlement when lawsuits have been brought against them as a way to resolve the suit, regardless of whether they’re admitting liability or not.)
And the ring may, in fact, be a safe option for many women: While some studies suggest that your chances of developing a blood clot with NuvaRing may be greater than on other forms of hormonal contraceptives, the research has been inconclusive and so far only shows a very slightly increased risk. In fact, your odds of developing a blood clot while on any hormonal birth control is much lower than your odds of developing one while pregnant or just after giving birth.
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There are currently about 3,800 people eligible to participate in the settlement, and at least 95 percent of them must participate in order for the deal to take effect. Interestingly, this deal is way less than the $1.6 billion Bayer paid last year for lawsuits filed against their birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, which some users claimed caused blood clots.
MORE: Birth Control Options: the Ring
For more information on NuvaRing and other contraceptive options, check out our Birth Control center.
MORE: Is the NuvaRing Actually Going to Kill You? A Look at the Evidence
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