[IMG]http://simplefeed.consumerreports.org/rsrc/i/1/_/tv_ads_for_birthcontrol_pill_yaz_gloss_over_the__3 16240642/4.gif?f=3dcb3160-01dc-11dc-32a2-0019bbc55f7f&s=AewyNia7NTvDvhaDemju5DEsbnVsbCwwLDA *[/IMG] TV ads for birth-control pill Yaz gloss over the risks
If you weren't paying close attention when you saw two recent TV commercials for the birth-control pill Yaz, you might have missed the part where they mention the serious and even life-threatening risks associated with the drug. That's because while a voiceover ran down the potential side effects of the drug, such as heart attack and stroke, pop music played in the background, and what appeared on the screen were images of women jogging, meeting up with their friends, and engaging in other everyday activities.
The ads raised a red flag with the Food and Drug Administration, which said the commercials glossed over the drug's risks and could give viewers the impression that Yaz is safer than has been demonstrated. The agency sent a warning letter in October to Bayer, Yaz's manufacturer, requesting that both commercials be pulled immediately.
In one ad, entitled "Balloons," the voiceover lists the side effects of Yaz while women are shown running in a park, driving, and singing. The FDA said the music and the numerous scene changes distracted viewers from hearing the risk information and made it difficult to process the adverse events associated with Yaz.
But that wasn't the only problem, the FDA said. The ads also give the misleading impression that the birth-control pill is appropriate for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS), when in fact it's only approved for treating a more serious condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. The symptoms of PMDD are generally so severe that they interfere with a woman's ability to work, go to school, and engage in social activities. In one ad, women sing the chorus to the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" as they kick and punch away words describing symptoms such as irritability, moodiness, bloating, and feeling anxious. The "Balloons" commercial shows balloons labeled with similar symptoms. But the FDA said that the way both ads present these symptoms gives the impression that they?re milder forms associated with PMS, rather than the more severe symptoms of PMDD.
Another knock against the commercials is that they misrepresent Yaz's potential for treating acne, the FDA said. Both ads show women with blemish-free faces while the voiceover says Yaz can help keep skin clear. The FDA pointed out, however, that while Yaz can reduce the amount of acne a woman has, clinical trials show that it does not result in completely clear skin.
Because the ads were considered to be serious violations of drug-ad regulations, the FDA asked Bayer to develop a plan to present truthful and non-misleading information about Yaz.
?Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Best Buy Drugs

Read more on Yaz and other extended-cycle birth-control pills, and watch our latest CR Adwatch video on Seasonique.
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