Lybrel
What is Lybrel?
Lybrel is a new form of birth control pill designed, like Seasonique, to be taken all year round. If approved, Lybrel would be the first combination oral contraceptive taken 365 days a year without a placebo phase or pill-free interval. This is done to reduce or completely eliminate menstruation in females on this pill.
How does it work?
Lybrel, like the combination pill uses a combination of progestin and estrogen to block ovulation, thin the lining of the endometrium (the part of the uterus where a fertilized egg implants), and thickens the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to penetrate the os (the opening in the cervix that leads to the uterus) and fertilize an egg. Since there are no placebo days, Lybrel can use lower doses of hormone per pill than traditional birth control pills do.
How effective is it?
In clinical studies, Lybrel was shown to have a 2 percent failure rate. This is a average effectiveness rating for a pill, with the perfect user failure rate being 0.1 percent, and the typical user failure rate being around 5 percent. To make Lybrel even more effective, a condom can be used in combination with it.
What side effects should I be aware of?
The most common side effect associated with Lybrel is a significant decrease in menstrual bleeding, and sometimes a complete cessation of menstrual bleeding all together. Amenorrhea (no menstrual periods) was reported in 52.9 percent of subjects testing Lybrel after 13 weeks, and 79 percent of women trying Lybrel reported almost no bleeding after 13 weeks. This pill is designed to prevent periods, so this is an expected side effect. In clinical studies, there were fewer mood swings with the women on Lybrel than with women on traditional birth control pills, since their hormone levels remained more balanced throughout the year. Lybrel does not protect against STDs, so it is important to either use a condom or communicate with her partner about ways to avoid spreading STDs. Women over 35 who smoke are also discouraged from using hormonal birth control methods, due to an increased risk of blood clots that could lead to stroke..
Added 1/16/07