WASHINGTON - The first birth control pill meant to put a stop to women's monthly periods indefinitely has won U.S. federal approval. Lybrel is the first such pill to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for continous use. Taken daily, it can halt women's menstrual periods indefinitly and prevent pregnancies. The pill, which is not approved in Canada, is the latest FDA-approved oral contraceptive to depart from the 21-days-on, seven-days-off regimen that had been standard since birth control pill sales began in the 1960s. The new pill, made by Wyeth, is the first designed to put off periods altogether when taken without break. Most of the roughly 12 million U.S. women who take birth-control pills do so to prevent pregnancy. A women's health expert said Lybrel would be a welcome addition for the woman who seeks relief from the headaches, tender breasts, cramps and nausea that can accompany monthly periods.
The Associated Press
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