Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
Dr. Brian Retherford in his Grass Valley office. He has not prescribed Lybrel yet, but said he wouldn't hesitate.
A new birth control period that halts women's menstrual periods 365 days a year is being hailed by some and questioned by others as a possibly unsafe device that alters a women's natural makeup.
Lybrel was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May after a pair of year-long clinical studies deemed it safe.
"I don't have a problem or hesitation in using it," for his patients, said Dr. Leonard Leon, an obstetrics and gynecology physician in Grass Valley. "Some women may not think it's natural, but it's patterned after a woman's full cycle," without the menstruation.
Lybrel was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May after a pair of year-long clinical studies deemed it safe.
"I don't have a problem or hesitation in using it," for his patients, said Dr. Leonard Leon, an obstetrics and gynecology physician in Grass Valley. "Some women may not think it's natural, but it's patterned after a woman's full cycle," without the menstruation.
Unlike normal birth control pills, Lybrel is taken every day. Regular birth control pills are taken for 21 days straight, with the next seven days off to allow the menstrual cycle to occur, and therein lies the rub.
"Some people feel it interferes with the body's natural cycle and therefore can't be healthy," said Aaron Dunn in an article he wrote in August for Planned Parenthood.
"Others think menstrual suppression unfairly reinforces negative feelings about women's periods; that is, they're embarrassing, awkward, and unwanted, so just take a pill and be rid of them."
Dr. Brian Retherford is another obstetrics and gynecology physician in Grass Valley. He hasn't prescribed Lybrel yet, but won't hesitate to do so.
"Some people feel it interferes with the body's natural cycle and therefore can't be healthy," said Aaron Dunn in an article he wrote in August for Planned Parenthood.
"Others think menstrual suppression unfairly reinforces negative feelings about women's periods; that is, they're embarrassing, awkward, and unwanted, so just take a pill and be rid of them."
Dr. Brian Retherford is another obstetrics and gynecology physician in Grass Valley. He hasn't prescribed Lybrel yet, but won't hesitate to do so.
When birth control pills first came out in the early 1960s, they were designed so that women would still have a period, "because they thought that's what women wanted," Retherford said, so they could still feel natural.
"Lybrel is just a step in the next direction," Retherford said. "For those with bad periods, heavy bleeding, really bad PMS, that's the kind of patient it makes sense for."
In a discussion about Lybrel on its Web site, the Mayo Clinic says, "the pills may be particularly welcome if you often experience severe pain, heavy bleeding or emotional problems during your periods."
"Lybrel is just a step in the next direction," Retherford said. "For those with bad periods, heavy bleeding, really bad PMS, that's the kind of patient it makes sense for."
In a discussion about Lybrel on its Web site, the Mayo Clinic says, "the pills may be particularly welcome if you often experience severe pain, heavy bleeding or emotional problems during your periods."
According to the Mayo Clinic and the FDA, Lybrel poses the same low risks as normal birth control pills do for strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots. It can also trigger major cardiovascular problems for cigarette smokers.
Lybrel also can make it difficult for women to realize if they are pregnant if the drug fails, because it halts menstruation. Most women who take it have unscheduled bleeding or spotting, but 59 percent of them in one of the clinical studies said it stopped by the 12th month of use, the FDA said.
While FDA, the studies and Wyeth Pharmeceuticals that produces Lybrel say it is safe, detractors remain.
"There is no long-term safety data on Lybrel," according to the Harvard Women's Health Watch online newsletter. "The effects of taking Lybrel for more than a year are unknown. The use of continuous birth control has to be considered largely uncharted territory."
Lybrel also can make it difficult for women to realize if they are pregnant if the drug fails, because it halts menstruation. Most women who take it have unscheduled bleeding or spotting, but 59 percent of them in one of the clinical studies said it stopped by the 12th month of use, the FDA said.
While FDA, the studies and Wyeth Pharmeceuticals that produces Lybrel say it is safe, detractors remain.
"There is no long-term safety data on Lybrel," according to the Harvard Women's Health Watch online newsletter. "The effects of taking Lybrel for more than a year are unknown. The use of continuous birth control has to be considered largely uncharted territory."
The concept of women skipping their periods completely with birth control pills is not new, according to Dr. Leon.
Some women use continuous cycling to avoid severe pain during their menstrual periods, Leon said.
"Any particular cycle we chose to use doesn't really make any difference," he said.
Some women use continuous cycling to avoid severe pain during their menstrual periods, Leon said.
"Any particular cycle we chose to use doesn't really make any difference," he said.
Both Leon and Retherford said getting the patient's progestin hormone balance correct is a more significant health risk factor to them than having no periods. The doctors have used Seasonale and Seasonique from Duramed Pharmeceuticals, which gives women protection and a period every three months.
"It's well-received," Retherford said of the three-month pills. "A lot of women have spotting with it, and that's a downside."
ooo
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
"It's well-received," Retherford said of the three-month pills. "A lot of women have spotting with it, and that's a downside."
ooo
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
