No More Periods? Development of New A Hormonal Contraceptive

Sick of those excruciating cramps, pounding headaches, and wild mood swings that happen every month? Are your menstrual periods painful, frustrating, or just plain annoying? Well, if you you have ever dreamed of getting rid of your period, then you may be you may be tempted by a new birth control pill that promises full period relief. The oral contraceptive, called Anya, is being heralded by many women as a real saving grace. But others worry about the safety of Anya and what it means for the future of the menstrual cycle.

What is Anya?
Anya, also marketed under the name Lybrel, is a birth control pill that is expected to be available on the U.S. and Canadian markets sometime this year. Produced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Anya is the first birth control pill that suppresses the menstrual period for a full year. Anya is a low dose, combination pill that contains a mixture of synthetic estrogen and progesterone. Specifically, Anya contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, synthetic hormones that can help to control the cycle of menstruation and ovulation.

How Does Anya Work?
Anya works just like the regular 21-day cycle oral contraceptive: it uses a combination of hormones to prevent ovulation from occurring, thus preventing pregnancy. It also thins the lining of the uterus, possibly preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg. What distinguishes Anya from other types of birth control pills, though, is the fact that you take a hormonal pill every single day of the year.

Currently, most birth control pills are taken for 21-days followed by a seven-day break. In 2003, a new type of birth control was introduced to the American market. Known as Seasonale (because it is a "seasonal birth control"), this birth control pill is taken for 84 consecutive days before the seven day break from hormone pills. Taking this concept one step further, Anya users take a hormone pill 365 days a year.

Regular birth control pills are taken for three weeks, followed by a week of placebo (sugar) pills. As you take the sugar pills, the hormones in your body drop, signaling your period to begin. But with Anya, the birth control pills are taken daily for 365 days in a row. There are no placebo pills, which means you do not experience a menstrual period.

How Effective is Anya?
In clinical studies, Anya has proven to be just as effective in preventing pregnancy as other combination birth control pills. When taken perfectly, Anya was found to be 98% effective in guarding against pregnancy. However, similar to other birth control pills, it is likely that actual use (i.e. not taking the pill at the same time every day; forgetting to take a pill) may lower its efficacy to 92%. Likewise, Anya's effectiveness can be impacted by certain medications (like antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, and St. John's Wort), or if you take the pills erratically. Anya is not effective in preventing against STDs.

Who Can Use Anya?
Any healthy woman who wishes to guard against unplanned pregnancies or who wants to suppress her period can take Anya. Because it completely suppresses periods, Anya may be particularly suited to women suffering from:

Anya may also be preferred by women with extremely busy or erratic schedules.

Is Anya Safe?
According to clinical studies performed by the manufacturer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, as well as other independent studies, Anya is entirely safe to take. However, every type of female birth control pill does slightly increase your risk of blood clots and breast cancer, particularly if you are over 35 and a smoker. Out of 2,000 Anya study participants, only 6 reported dangerous health side effects, like blood clots. The most common side effect found in the study was irregular menstrual bleeding. However, after taking Anya for seven months, less than 30% of participants continued to experience this side effect.

It should be noted that no clinical studies have been performed studying the long-term effects of Anya. Additionally, some of the studies performed on the pill were undertaken by the manufacturer, presenting the possiblity of biased results. It is not known how Anya may affect fertility or reproductive health when taken for a number of years. One concern for women is that suppression of menstruation for such a long period may result in an irreversible loss of bone density, a documented side-effect of depo-provera another hormonal contraceptive that suppresses menstruation for months at a time.

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