Extended cycle combined hormonal contraceptive
| Extended cycle combined hormonal contraceptives | |
|---|---|
| Background | |
| Type | Hormonal |
| First use | ? |
| Pregnancy rates (first year) | |
| Perfect use | ? |
| Typical use | ? |
| Usage | |
| Duration effect | varies |
| Reversibility | Yes |
| User reminders | varies |
| Advantages and disadvantages | |
| STI protection | No |
| Periods | Eliminates or reduces frequency |
| Benefits | Reduce menstruation related symptoms, reduce risk of anemia |
Extended or continuous cycle combined oral contraceptive pills are a packaging of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) that reduce or eliminate the withdrawal bleeding that would occur once every 28 days in traditionally packaged COCPs. Extended cycle use of COCPs may also be called menstrual suppression.
Other combined hormonal contraceptives (those containing both an estrogen and a progestogen) may also be used in an extended or continuous cycle. For example, the NuvaRing vaginal ring and the contraceptive patch have been studied for extended cycle use, and the monthly combined injectable contraceptive may similarly eliminate bleeding.
Before the advent of modern contraceptives, reproductive age women spent most of their time either pregnant or nursing. In modern western society women typically have about 450 periods during their lives, as compared to about 160 formerly.
Although it was evident that the pill could be used to suppress menstruation for arbitrary lengths of time, the original regimen was designed to produce withdrawal bleeding every four weeks to mimic the menstrual cycle.
Seasonale was first developed by Barr Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Eastern Virginia Medical School, under an agreement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Seasonale in the United States on September 5, 2003. Barr Pharmaceuticals, its manufacturer, claimed at the time of Seasonale's approval that it would cost one dollar per pill. Seasonale is one of Barr Pharmaceuticals' 22 oral contraceptive products.Health Canada approved Seasonale in July 2007, and Paladin Labs began distributing it in Canada on January 4, 2008.
The FDA approved Lybrel for human consumption on May 22, 2007. Lybrel is currently available at pharmacies by prescription only.
...
Wikipedia