| The first FDA
approved birth control pill Lybrel
— manufactured by Wyeth — is
showing impressive results. Studies by its manufacturer, have
reported that Lybrel completely stops bleeding in more than
70 per cent of women who take it for seven months.
And in global clinical trials involving 2,457 women confirmed
the efficacy of Lybrel. Wyeth has described Lybrel
as "an important evolution for oral contraception".
“For those women seeking contraceptive options and who
are interested in putting their period on hold,” says
Ginger Constantine, M.D., Vice President, Women’s Health
Care, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, “Lybrel may be an appropriate
choice.”
Moreover, it is expected that 3.5 million
British women take the Pill. Surveys have found that up to
half of women would prefer not to have any periods and most
would prefer them less often. It is taken in three-week
cycles with a fourth week off for them to have their
period. Like most Pills, Lybrel contains a combination of
oestrogen and progestogen,
but at lower doses, to allow it to be taken without a break.
In a clinical study, Lybrel was found to be as safe and as
effective as birth control pills in standard
hormone and placebo regimens. Women who suffered the effects
of PMT, which can include mood swings, bloating and discomfort
also found their symptoms reduced.
But like other available oral contraceptives, Lybrel is effective
for prevention of pregnancy when used as
directed. The risks of using Lybrel are similar to the risks
of other conventional oral contraceptives and include an increased
risk of blood clots, heart attacks,
and strokes.
In addition, cigarette smoking increases
the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects
from the use of combination estrogen and progestin-containing
contraceptives. And the label also carries the warning that
birth control pills do not protect against HIV infection
(AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
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