New Pill Gives Women 4 Periods A Year

[punky]

I am not sure if this is well known among women, but it was news to me, so I thought i'd share it with you anyway just in case. Even thoughh it might only be a bit of a tease

http://www.seasonale.com/

If it is safe and works (It is FDA so by all accounts it should), then it would be excellent for everyone. It might well be a tease for Brits as I am not sure how easy/legal it is to get hold of American medication? As they have managed to do it though, most drug companies around the world rip off American medications anyways so it could well be made in England eventually?

Oh, and if anyone is wondering how I come to find this site, being in a country with a privatised health care system means 1 in 3 adverts is about some drug or piece of medical equiptment. They were trying to flog DIY at home defribrillators from Phillips the other day

[Chimaera]

I thought you could reduce the number of periods you have in a year by taking the ordinary contraceptive pill (not the mini-pill) without the monthly break - under a doctor's supervision?
I expect you can buy this from various places (or will be able to soon) especially if you watch your spam mail!
Other companies won't be able to market it for a while yet as it will be under patent for a few years (I think it's 10?)

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Chimaera

I thought you could reduce the number of periods you have in a year by taking the ordinary contraceptive pill (not the mini-pill) without the monthly break - under a doctor's supervision?
I expect you can buy this from various places (or will be able to soon) especially if you watch your spam mail!
Other companies won't be able to market it for a while yet as it will be under patent for a few years (I think it's 10?)

Thats what I though too, its effectivly a blister pack of 91 pills where instead of 21 contraceptive pills and 7 placebo pills it is 84 contraceptive pills and 7 placebo, something doctors have been doing "off-label" for years, especially popular around wedding days aniveraries etc, after all it's not a period, it's breakthrough bleeding, there is no ovulation while you are on the pill.
As it's effectivly a packaging and marketing thing it could be taken up by other companies sooner rather than later.

EDIT - knew there was something I meant to add... I bet a man came up with this idea, it give a woman 8 less excuses for a week off each year "not tonight darling..."

[Gareth]

Yippee - less stress all round! Now, if only they could make 'em disappear completely, that would be fantastic for all us blokes the world over.

[Ramrod]

Messing with hormones like that is usually not a good idea, there is often a downside
edit.....this is just from their own website:

Risks with SEASONALE® are similar to those with all birth control pills. Most side effects are not serious and those that are occur infrequently. The convenience of fewer planned menses (4 per year instead of 13 per year) should be weighed against the inconvenience of increased intermenstrual bleeding and/or spotting. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious side effects, especially if you are over 35. Women who use birth control pills should not smoke

[punky]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Messing with hormones like that is usually not a good idea, there is often a downside
edit.....this is just from their own website:

All adverts say similiar things like that though. Half the time it is funny because the side affects are worse than the inital problem. Like an acne treatment had side affects of serious stomach cramps and strokes

It seems like this is nothing new then, but the advert, website and even its name seem to laud itself as some kind of exclusive medical breakthrough (although the contraceptive pill isn't really my specialist subject). I have noticed in the small print on the site it basically says it is nothing special you just take it differently. I wonder why this method isn't more well known?

[bb31]

yes nothing new at all - the depo provera injection gives you no periods at all as you do not ovulate. i dont care messing with my hormones or whatever u want to call - at least there is no time of the month...........yipppeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

[Tricky]

At a risk of being flamed - Would this new pill increase number of headaches?

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Tricky

At a risk of being flamed - Would this new pill increase number of headaches?

A valid question

[Maggy J]

I would NEVER go back on the pill.It made me fouled tempered,increased my headaches tenfold and I still had periods and I lost my libido.

I reckon if blokes think the pill is so great that they take the male contraceptive pill instead!!!!

Any takers?

Incog.

[Xaccers]

when the pill was first developed they realised it could be taken constantly and stop periods, but decided women would feel better if they still had their periods.
As has been said, the injection gives you no periods, but can send women loopy near the end and beginning of their injections!
With regards to the increase in risk of thrombosis and other clots from taking the pill, pregnancy has a much higher risk of these things happening!

Personally, I can't wait for the male pill to come out. At least I know I'll take it!
The number of women I know who forget to take their pill each morning is scary!

[bb31]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

As has been said, the injection gives you no periods, but can send women loopy near the end and beginning of their injections!

me loopy never

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by bb31

me loopy never

I did say can rather than does

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I would NEVER go back on the pill.It made me fouled tempered,increased my headaches tenfold and I still had periods and I lost my libido.

I reckon if blokes think the pill is so great that they take the male contraceptive pill instead!!!!

Any takers?

Incog.

Exactly!
....and it's not uncommon to get a loss of libido on the pill.......which is ironic really

[Jefferson T]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Any takers?

I sure would if I needed to

We are in the lucky (if you look at it like that) situation that the missus already has only 4 periods a year if that.

Unfortuanately, as you can imagine, this is a problem when trying to have kids.

But - no - I wouldn't have a problem taking a 'male' pill