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December 10, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The deaths of two women in Israel and New Zealand have been linked to their use of contraceptive pills. They are the latest in a series of findings that contraceptive drugs may be more harmful than realized by the general public. Earlier this year, for example, a class-action lawsuit was launched against the makers of the contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin, which may be responsible for 23 deaths in Canada. And a recent study of women who use birth control for three years or more found they may have greater risk of glaucoma.

The woman in Israel, who was also a smoker, died despite the best efforts of doctors at a nearby hospital, reports TheBlaze. The woman “was brought to us in critical condition. Doctors tried for a long time to fight for her life,” a hospital official told the news agency.

It is thought that her death took place as a result of combining smoking and contraception use, which the Mayo Clinic has warned could be a harmful combination. The form of contraceptive has not been identified.

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In New Zealand, three General Physicians (GPs) are under fire for allegedly taking substandard care of a woman who allegedly died from complications related to her use of the contraceptive Estelle. The woman, who was an overweight 35-year old smoker with a family history of deep vein clots, was on a contraceptive known to increase the risk of deep vein clots by five times, especially given the other risk factors the woman had. Doctors are accused of not testing her properly and not providing full information to the woman about Estelle. The woman died in 2011.

Canada has also seen a rash of deaths possibly related to contraceptive use, with at least 23 deaths and 600 “adverse reactions” having been recorded between 2007 and 2013 where Yaz or Yasmin were suspected to have been factors. Half of the women who died, according to The Huffington Post, were under 26, and one was 14 years old.

According to Human Life International Communications Director Adam Cassandra, “the potentially harmful and fatal side effects of contraceptive use, while well documented in the medical and scientific communities, are unfortunately known to far too few women.” He said that “whenever the scientific and medical facts about the harms of contraceptive use are discussed, those attempting to inform the public are hit with the 'war on women' propaganda line and told to keep quiet.”

According to Cassandra, “the real war on women is being waged by promoters of abortion and contraception.”

Millions of American women use contraception on a regular basis. The Guttmacher Institute reported earlier this year that 62% of women between 15 and 44 are using contraception – over 42 million women. The Supreme Court is currently considering whether all American women have a “right” to contraception, as defined in the Affordable Care Act.