Many women who suffered arterial events such as strokes or heart attacks have been waiting since 2009 for Bayer to come to the negotiating table. The women claim that Bayer’s oral contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz caused their injuries. Bayer has now agreed to set aside $56.9 million to compensate these women. It’s up to each individual woman to decide whether to participate in the program that Bayer is offering.

Since 2011 Bayer has paid $2 billion to settle claims of women who suffered venous events such as pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis. But under the deal now on the table, the approximately 1200 injured women with arterial – related injuries would share $46.9 million, with another $10 million available for those women and families who can demonstrate that their injuries were particularly severe or that a family member died from the arterial event. The settlement program amounts to an average of $50,000 per woman.

The Court has ordered the lawyers for all potential claimants to submit certain forms on behalf of their clients before Friday August 7th at 11:59 EST. The women whose lawyers submit the forms will then have until September 12th to decide if they want to Opt-In to the program.