Hasn’t it been
almost every woman’s dream to not have to be plagued
by the regular monthly visit from, the period? Well this
dream may just become a reality.
Lybrel, is the first birth control pill designed to completely
eliminate periods for one year. Lybrel, is also proving
to be an effective treatment for premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
The experimental low-dose combined oral contraceptive, designed
to be taken daily (365 days a year) which delivers estrogen
and a progestin, was found to be highly effective in stopping
monthly periods and alleviating the emotional and physical
symptoms connected to menstruation.
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, announced that
four scientific theories regarding Lybrel(TM) were presented
for the first time at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American
Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Montreal, Canada
on October 17. The studies investigated the effects of the
drug on ovarian activity, safety and efficacy, endometrial
histology, and cycle-related symptoms.
"It is not uncommon
for women and their [physicians] to choose to monitor when
they have their menstrual cycles or to eliminate them completely,"
University of Vermont professor of obstetrics and gynecology
Julia Johnson, MD, said at a news conference from the Montreal
meeting.
The study proved that
Lybrel was greater than 98 percent effective in preventing
pregnancy which is consistent with currently available oral
contraceptive products.
A new drug application
for Lybrel was submitted to the FDA in July. Wyeth spokeswoman
Amy Marren, MD, says the pharmaceutical company is hoping
for FDA approval by next spring.
In an interview about the menstrual cycle with Paula J.
Adams Hillard, M.D. on <about.com> she discussed recent
studies involving menstrual cycles and the suppression of
menstruation.
“The menstrual cycle provides a unique window into
a woman's overall health-physical and emotional. Just like
her blood pressure, pulse, and respiration, menstrual cyclicity
provides important medical information that should be monitored
regularly-by the woman herself as well as by her clinician,”
said Hillard.
Hillard also went on to discuss menstrual suppression birth
control.
“Many women can benefit from hormonal menstrual suppression-particularly
those who have medial problems associated with their periods
such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, menstrual headaches,
acne, heavy bleeding, menstrual pain or cramps, etc. There
is no evidence to suggest that using hormones in this way
is harmful or that this therapy should be avoided. Physicians
have been prescribing this type of therapy for many years.
However, long term data is not yet available, and thus women
should discuss this with their clinicians”
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