ePillz.com - Seasonique – a New Word in Women's Contraception

Seasonique – a New Word in Women's Contraception

May 25, 2006 - Barr Pharmaceuticals, inc. –

Seasonique, a new oral contraceptive for women, was approved by American Food and Drug Administration on May 25, 2006, as it is said in the official press-release from Barr Pharmaceuticals, whose subsidiary company Duramed Pharmaceuticals developed the new contraceptive pill.

Seasonique, as well as the company's another pill Seasonale, belongs to the so-cold "extended cycle oral contraceptives", the development of which started in 2003 with the launch of Seasonale and its approval by FDA.

In fact, a new group of contraceptives are very close to commonly used oral contraceptive hormonal pills, such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen, still it has some important differences. Their common feature is that both types of contraceptives influence the hormonal system of female organism, preventing ovaries from releasing eggs, thus making pregnancy impossible.

However, in contrast to traditional pills, Seasonale and new Seasonique offers women a possibility to reduce a number of menstruation cycles from 13, which is common while using traditional pills, to just 4 per year. That is why a new group of medications is called “extended-cycle contraceptives”.

Such result is ensured by a special regimen of pills administration. While traditional oral contraceptives are taken for 21 days (3 weeks), Seasonale and Seasonique should be taken for 84 days (3 months). Taking pills (both traditional and extended cycle contraceptives) with active ingredients (hormones) is followed with 1 week period, when a woman takes inactive pills or placebo (without hormones).

Though Seasonique and Seasonale reduce the number of menstruations to 4 per year, they also increase chances of women to experience spotting and breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first year of pills usage.

But here is an important point, revealing the difference between Seasonale and Seasonique. Seasonale regimen involves taking the placebo pills for 7 days after taking pills with active hormones. With Seasonique, a woman takes pills with low-doses of ethinyl estradiol hormone instead of placebo pills. This allows to reduce bleeding and to ease the withdrawal symptoms, which appear after a woman stops taking “active” pills with full-dose hormones.

Speaking about the efficiency of the new female contraceptives, it should be mentioned that the situation with Seasonique is the same as with traditional pills: a woman should carefully follow the regimen, taking one pill a day at the same time. Only strict following to the regimen ensures high efficiency of contraception.

Side effects of Seasonique should also be carefully studied before taking the pills. Since it is also a hormonal medication, Seasonique may lead to serious adverse reactions, such as blood clots, cardiovascular problems, strokes and heart attacks. Moreover, smoking significantly increases the chances to experience side effects, especially when a woman is over 35 years old.

Anyway, the advantage of having 4 menstruations per year instead of 13 makes Seasonique a really attractive contraception option for women. Now when it is approved by FDA, Seasonique will be available by prescription in July 2006.

Nick

External resources
http://www.seasonique.com/
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=60908&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=86110...
http://www.seasonale.com