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Arts-culture/Health
DatePosted:11/04/05


Ending PMS
By Tracey A. Casseus

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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