Costa Rican health authorities monitoring popular contraceptive after deaths in Canada

June 12^th, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health is monitoring a popular contraceptive, sold in Costa Rica under the brand name Yasmin or Yaz, after Canadian health officials announced they had linked the deaths of 23 women between 2007 and 2013 to blood clotting believed to be linked to the contraceptive.

According to health officials in Costa Rica, there have been no reports of adverse effects of the drug so far recorded in the country.

Officials said they would continue monitoring the drug and would take action if necessary, but have no immediate plans to pull the contraceptive from store shelves.

There have been at least 600 reports of adverse reactions to Yasmin, though the manufacturer indicated that the risk of blood clots by Yasmin users is similar to other oral contraceptives.