| No tampons, no super-sized maxi pads, no | | | | own bodies, but what are the real |
| cramps... Any Pamprin-pressed woman could | | | | implications?" Moreover, Elson finds that |
| rant off endless positives of a | | | | menstruation has transformed from a |
| period-stopping birth control pill. Yet, is | | | | biological issue into a social matter and |
| this new menstruation vanishing drug safe and | | | | proposes that women, "... might not find |
| can it still provide acne protection? | | | | their periods so inconvenient if schools and |
| | | | workplaces provided opportunities for people |
| What is "period-stopping" Well, first the | | | | to rest." |
| period ending contraceptive called Lybrel | | | | |
| does not really stop the | | | | Like Elson, Margaret Freda a professor of |
| period"period-stopping" | | | | obstetrics and gynecology and women's health |
| | | | at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New |
| Well, first the period ending contraceptive | | | | York City, has doubts about menstrual |
| called Lybrel does not actually stop the | | | | suppression. This past August, Freda told the |
| period. As the Association of Reproductive | | | | American Journal of Nursing, "The jury is |
| Health Professionals points out, birth | | | | still out on total menstrual suppression," |
| control induced period stopping is really | | | | until long-term studies of its safety are |
| "menstrual suppression". The body's response | | | | done. |
| to the seven day absence of birth control | | | | |
| hormones after the typical 21-day birth | | | | A study published in Contraception examined |
| control cycle triggers withdrawal bleeding, | | | | the safeness of continuous daily usage of |
| not a true period. | | | | Lybrel on over 2,000 healthy women who had |
| | | | normal menstrual cycles. Among the |
| Regardless of its name, this week's Food and | | | | participants, Lybrel side-effects were |
| Drug Administration approval of the period | | | | comparable to those reported for 21-days on |
| skipping contraceptive spawned enough | | | | and 7-days off oral contraceptive regimens. |
| unanswered questions about safeness to fill a | | | | |
| month of morning talk shows. | | | | However, Dr. Camelia Davtyan, an assistant |
| | | | professor of medicine at the University of |
| Lybrel Period suppressing Lybrel comes in a | | | | California, Los Angeles, did find one problem |
| 28 day-pill pack. The pills contain 90 | | | | with the study. Davtyan told HealthDay News |
| micrograms of a progestin, levonorgestrel, | | | | that, "... the rate of uterine |
| and 20 micrograms of an estrogen, ethinyl | | | | bleeding-related complications is quite |
| estradiol. These active ingredients are | | | | high." |
| similar to and work like other FDA approved | | | | |
| contraceptives. Except, you skip the | | | | Granted some woman have practiced menstrual |
| placebos. Levonorgestrel stops the body's | | | | suppression for years, it could take five to |
| monthly release of an egg from the ovary and | | | | twenty years before medical studies |
| thickens cervical mucus which makes it harder | | | | ultimately concur on the overall safeness of |
| for sperm to fertilize an egg. | | | | this practice. In the meantime, women will |
| | | | once again need to rely on their intuition |
| Lybrel and acne control | | | | and personal health needs to decide what is |
| | | | the best way to prevent pimples and |
| Besides preventing pregnancies, Lybrel can | | | | pregnancies. |
| also elicit an acne preventing effect. The | | | | |
| ethinyl estradiol component of the pill can | | | | Sources: |
| reduce circulating levels of testosterone and | | | | |
| ultimately limit facial oil secretion- one of | | | | Archera, David F et al. Evaluation of a |
| several factors implicated in provoking acne. | | | | continuous regimen of levonorgestrel/ethinyl |
| But how will menstrual suppression using | | | | estradiol: phase 3 study results. |
| Lybrel effectively treat acne? | | | | Contraception; December 2006, vol 74, no 6, |
| | | | pp 439-445. |
| A study sponsored by Lybrel manufacturer | | | | |
| Wyeth does support the acne preventing power | | | | Association of Reproductive Health |
| of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. But, | | | | Professionals. Health Matters: Understanding |
| ironically, possible side-effects of | | | | Menstrual Suppression. October 2006. |
| levonorgestrel include oily skin and acne. If | | | | |
| you do experience acne while using an | | | | HealthDay News. New Year-Round Contraceptive |
| contraceptive containing levonorgestrel, | | | | Pill Safe and Effective. December 13, 2006. |
| inform your doctor, because commonly | | | | |
| prescribed acne antibiotics like tetracycline | | | | Potera, Carol & Maureen Shawn Kennedy. |
| can make levonorgestrel less effective. | | | | Choosing Not to Menstruate: A trend for |
| | | | adults and some adolescents. Is it safe? |
| Further study on menstrual suppression needed | | | | American Journal of Nursing; August 2006, vol |
| | | | 106, no 8, pp 19. |
| While the words "stop your period" may sound | | | | |
| melodious to millions of women, to University | | | | Thiboutot, Diane. A randomized, controlled |
| of New Hampshire professor of the sociology | | | | trial of a low-dose contraceptive containing |
| of gender and medical sociology Jean Elson, | | | | 20 g of ethinyl estradiol and 100 g of |
| they sound more like the prelude to a horror | | | | levonorgestrel for acne treatment. Fertility |
| movie. | | | | and Sterility; September 2001, vol 76, no 3, |
| | | | pp 461-468. |
| Elson feels, "Employing hormones to curtail | | | | |
| normal menstruation strikes me as a very odd | | | | University of New Hampshire. Expert: New |
| mix of feminism and medical authority women | | | | Birth Control Pill That Eliminates Periods Is |
| are offered the opportunity to control their | | | | A Bad Idea. Newswise; May 22, 2007. |