So far I have tested negative for the major clotting disorders, but will have a full work-up done in February (9 months following my PE; discovered it on May 1, 2008). I took birth control for a while in my 20s---stopped around the time that I had a varicose vein removed--doctor thought that it may have been caused by birth control.

Big mistake---I started birth control again a couple of years ago to help regulate a cycle that had gone haywire (and get rid of an ovarian cyst). I started with another bc pill, but started to take the Yaz pill---went off of it in late January of this year b/c I wasn't feeling very good on it. When I first started birth control I noticed some pains in my legs; I called the doctor and he told me just to watch my legs for redness, swelling, hot to the touch. I never developed any classic leg symptoms, but would feel aches and pains sometimes. My PE was labeled subacute----meaning that it had been there for a while--I had experienced shortness of breath since last fall---went to a series of doctors, specialists--had many tests run before they finally did the CT scan and found the PE. I do have a family history----mom had a PE, uncle had a DVT, and they think that my grandmother had some clotting issues (all from the same side), but I am convinced that the birth control triggered any clotting issues I might have.

Mine was Yasmin
My understanding is that Yaz and Yasmin are both made by Bristol-Myers and very similar. I did a little research on Yasmin in particular (and talked about it in a way old string here - can't remember the title). Yasmin was only approved for use in 2000 and is listed on worstpills.com (or some such site - you have to pay to get on there, but I did as it was nominal and there's definitely some interesting info there). The hormone in Yasmin (not sure about Yaz) was different from all the other hormones that were ever available here in the US market in other bc pills. In their defense, they were probably trying to do the right thing in that this hormone is a bit closer to natural estrogen that the other hormones. It does seem to be a culprit for PEs tho - I mentioned here before my hematologist point-blank asked me if I was on Yasmin without me even mentioning bc pills. She said I am her "5th or 6th" young, otherwise healthy PE patient who was on Yasmin (I have no genetic factors or clotting disorders). Well, if this has only been avaiable since 2000, I'm her 5th or 6th PE patient, now multiplpy that by all similar docs and PE patients all over the country ... and suddenly you're coming up with more than that 1 in 10,000 risk they talk about (scary thing is that it is more risky the older you get ... more like 1 in 2,500 if you're over 35). And it's important to remember these are ANNUAL statistics, not "forever" statistics.

Even tho all of this makes you go "Aha! Damn birth control!" I'm pretty sure there is no definitive way to know that it was bc-related and not some other factor. The docs can have their strong suspicions and we can all really, really want someone or something to blame ... but I'm not sure there's really any proof out there. But if you find some - let me know! :o)

P.S. I am 4 months out, too (my PE was on June 4th).

I also tested negative for genetic and other clotting disorders, so they have put my PE down to the BC pill too and maybe a contribution from my international flight, but I was 3 months out from the flight so they are not sure about that). I was on Microgynon 20 (an Australian brand). I am now 3 months out from my PE.

Hi there-I was on yazmin for 2 years then switched to desogen which i was on during my PE. I loved being on the pill , now that i am off I am practically homebound for the first 2 days of my cycle- due to it being sooo heavy(side effect of the Warfarin????) its really frustrating I tested posiive for Leiden factor v . I am not having any more children-because of my risk factors and now age(41) .Prior to my PE i was considering having another child ,as I was about to be remarried to a man who never had children, but all that has changed. I am too scared to even consider it. Birth control has been condoms and or abstinence on unsafe days. SO MUCH FUN!!! Anyway at this point I wouldnt mind just having a hysterectomy so i wouldnt have to deal with such awful periods or birth control. On a positive note I am blessed with two healthy children from my first marriage and never had problems with miscarriage or other issues that alot of women with clotting disorders deal with. (I didnt know i had a clotting disorder till i was 40) Hope that helps-Jenine

My cause for dvt and pe is due to the birth control too. but i have to stay on coumadin forever.

I was on orthonuvum 1/35- not sure if spelling is right

All of my blood work came back "clean" too. I was on Yasmin for a year, and then switched to Nuva Ring which I was on for 7 months when I had my PE.

I was on Orthonovum (sp), I think, it's been 13 years and I don't really remember. I also have a genetic clotting disorder, protein S.

The generic version of Yasmin. Was on the generic for the first month, been on yasmin about a year, birth control pills around 5 years.

Hi, I am new here and so excited to find all of you. I have struggled so much this last year with all of this and as I read all of your stories it is like looking in a mirror!I wish I had found this group a lot sooner!
Anyway, I had taken Yasmin for many years and had recently switched to Seasonique and had been on that for about five months. I have not been tested for the clotting disorders because my hematologist says the tests are not accurate until you hold Coumadin. He wants to do another Ct in Jan. and then possible hold and test. So far, my only known risk factor is the BCP. I have heard so many stories locally about others with the same thing just from the pill.It is very scary.

I was on ortho-novem for over 20 years. I have my DVT/PE a little over a year ago. I tested negative for genetic clotting issues so my doc attributed the clots to the BC pills. So I went off the pills the day of the PE and was on warfarin for 6 months. Six weeks after being off of warfarin, I developed a DVT in my arm. There went the BC theory, I guess. I had a new round of genetic testing done and again, no clotting factors. I'm on back on warfarin for life.

Through my own research and after confirming it with my GI doc, I learned that my ulcerative colitis may contribute to my clotting issues.

After much stress and anguish over not having a definitive answer on why I clot, I've sort of worked through my need to know and now am just accepting that this is who I am. Yeah, I wish I knew why, but for my own sanity, I remind myself that knowing why I clot doesn't change my treatment and it doesn't change my situation. Trust me, this was a difficult hump for me to get over.

However, I am staying away from all hormone based birth control as a precaution, even though I'm on warfarin. I just don't want the risk.

I was on NuvaRing, and if you google that and P.E, there are quite a bit NuvaRing cases that have killed and caused numerous P.E.'s around the globe...

I always get mad everytime i see that dag going commercial....

Oh yeah, when I see those commercials, I yell at the TV, "That Stuff Will Kill You You!!"

But then I think, I knew that clots were a risk when I went on BC pills and I chose to still take them anyway. As I always say, you just don't ever think it'll happen to you.

I knew that blood clots were a risk factor, but I never associated that a blood clot could lead to a PE. And my dad HAD a PE ... call me a dunce, but I just thought since his came from DVT/injury, that they were completely unrelated (I was also living out of state at the time, it was a long time ago, I was in shock and not really understanding all the medical lingo at the time). They do warn you in the literature and the tv ads that blood clots can lead to stroke and heart attack ... but they never say anything about PE. From my stand point, a blood clot sounded pretty inocuous as I have NO family history of heart attack or stroke (and my mom had a superficial blood clot removed - so that was my only thought, "Oh, if it happens to me I'll just have it removed like my mom did, no problem!"). I think if someone - somewhere along the line - would have advised that these same blood clots can lead to PE, then I think I would have had major second thoughts. Maybe not, but ... it just never crossed my mind until they started asking me about bcpills in the hospital ... I just never connected the dots.

The other thing to point out is that the 1 in 10,000 or 1 in 2,500 (or whatever) is an annual, rather than a for all-time statistic. Although it says so in that literature ... no one ever really sat me down to talk about the significance of that, and for sure no one ever said your risks go way up over the age of 35; they only ask if you smoke and when you say no, they say "Oh, ok - just don't start smoking." I mean, I know the onus is on the consumer to read all of that literature, but a doctor or pharmacist should have said ... "the pill has these serious side effects and here's what they can potentially lead to: x, y, or z ... or pe!" I don't remember anyone saying that to me when I first started on bc (long before my dad's PE), and I'm absolutely certain no one advised me once I was over 35.

I dunno ... I don't think any of us would have any recourse with pharma companies or doctors ... the only thing we can do is warn our friends and family. Word of mouth is powerful.

I was looking at pictures the other day from the actual day I experience the first bit of discomfort ... and it was absolutely soul-shaking to look at myself, happy and goofing around and to think, "Wow - that could have been it. Done." Eeek! *shudder*