No More Periods! The Facts About Lybrel

It's that time of the month again. Women all around the world, including me, are emotional, cramping, bloated, all around feeling irritable. But what if someone offered you a pill that would eliminate your annoying periods as well as protect you from pregnancy... would you do it?

This miracle drug is called Lybrel. On May 22, 2007 this oral contraceptive was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Lybrel contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. Long words... but what does it mean?

Ethinyl Estradiol is an estrogen. Estrogens promote the development of the parts of us that make us female; such as the growth of the breasts, uterus, and our menstrual cycles. Levonorgestrel is a progestin. Progestins are synthetic hormones that suppress ovulation.

The type and amount of estrogen and or progestin differs from one product to another, however before choosing to use Lybrel, your doctor needs to know if you have ever suffered from certain conditions.

Doctors need to know if you have or ever had any of the following conditions:
blood clots, blood sugar problems, like diabetes, cancer of the breast, cervix, ovary, uterus, vagina, or unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been evaluated by a health care professional, depression, fibroids, gallbladder disease, heart or circulation problems, high, blood pressure, jaundice, liver disease, menstrual problems, migraine headaches, stroke, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tobacco smoker, an unusual or allergic reaction to estrogen/progestin, other hormones, medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, and breast-feeding.

By telling your primary care physician about these types of conditions will assist him or her in seeing if Lybrel is appropriate for you to use. Even though the doses are low in Lybrel, they are still present and can have the ability of not working appropriately if suffering from any of the above conditions.

Lybrel is expected to be taken daily, 365 days a year, and without a placebo phase or pill-free interval. However, if taking anastrozole, antibiotics, medicines for infections, rifampin, aprepitant, barbiturate medicines for producing sleep or treating seizures, bosentan, carbamazepine, caffeine, clofibrate, cyclosporine, dantrolene, doxercalciferol, exemestane, grapefruit juice, hydrocortisone, letrozole, diazepam, temazepam, medicines for mental depression, troglitazone, pioglitazone, mineral oil, modafinil, mycophenolate, nefazodone, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, prednisolone, ritonavir, selegiline, soy isoflavones supplements, St. John's wort, tamoxifen, raloxifene, testolactone, theophylline, topiramate, or warfarin, Lybrel may interact with them.

So far I'm already skeptical. I know that there are many birth controls out there that halt menstruation, but if you think about it, is it really a good idea to stop your body from doing something natural and helpful. Many women may say that menstruation isn't helpful. As being women, our lining of our uterus sheds each month when an egg is not fertilized. The shedding triggers the bleeding because our body does not need the unused lining. When this occurs our estrogen levels drop.

Even if we skip a month and miss a period our estrogen levels still drop during that time frame. Depending on how low our estrogen levels drop to, can put us in line for developing osteoporosis. Normally women with a low estrogen level also tend to have low blood pressure and can have depression, thin hair, poor memory and other deficiencies.

The effectiveness of Lybrel is 99%, but like with every medication, there can be side effects like blood clots, ectopic pregnancy, prolonged vaginal bleeding, as well as gallbladder inflammation. Concerns also point to whether women might lose bone density when periods are suppressed for a long time. The type of bone density loss that would be irreversible. Breast tenderness, respiratory problems, nervousness, nausea, spotting, vaginitis, intolerance to contact lenses, and changes in weight have been reported as well with a minimal weight gain of two pounds.

Changing the workings of your body has some pros and cons. So far I have touched upon some of the medical cons of taking Lybrel. How about some pros about this new birth control?

Here's a big one, saving money! You don't have to keep spending money buying pads or tampons. That's saving at least $80 a year! Don't forget buying all those medications that help prevent cramping and help getting rid of headaches. That is another easy $80 a year there.

With not having to buy tampons or pads or pain relievers, you don't have to worry about carrying a bigger purse to hold your supplies!

The relief of the irritability will inevitably help you, your family, and those around you be a little bit more calmer and less fearful that you're going to bite their head off. The relief of bloating with be a plus, finally we don't have to lie down to button up a pair of pants! And of course the cramping... the worse thing that I can think of... to be finally rid of the unexpected sharp shooting pains that strike us at any time, not to mention the constant feeling of someone wringing out our stomachs for hours on end.

Without periods, we don't have to calculate our menstrual cycle every time we are planning on going swimming, or on vacation, or even getting married! When my mom and dad got married, my mom didn't consider calculating, and my dad was asking the hotel clerk if their honeymoon suite had a television!

Some positive things about having a period are: the possibility of getting out of swimming or gym class for a week, knowing that you are not pregnant, and the comforting knowledge that your body is working properly and cleansing itself.

Lybrel is not only a drug that assists in suppressing that annoying menstrual cycle, as said before it is also an oral contraceptive. 323 women used Lybrel and none became pregnant. However, with this current statistic, we are not aware if there were any other added contraceptive by their partner. And of course, an oral contraceptive, such as Lybrel, does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or infections.

So how long does it take before you are period free? Lybrel is said to have stopped 71% of bleeding after seven months. However, after terminating the use of Lybrel, normal periods resumed within three months.

Lybrel is only going to be available by prescription only and will receive 28 yellow colored tablets. According to the Wyth company that is responsible for this pill, it is not only going to be a contraceptive and suppressing periods, it is also going to include an alteration of the cervix and the endometrium, which will increase the difficulty of sperm to enter the uterus and also egg implantation.

When you go to purchase Lybrel, if you have no health insurance, your looking to pay around $120 for a three month supply, however if you do have health coverage, you may be covered.

Knowledge is a wonderful thing, but a lot of times, it can't out weigh our values. Personally, I feel that altering how our bodies perform and work on a daily basis can affect us in the long run. Sure it may work now, but what about later? Womanhood sometimes is very hard, but in order to be a woman, our menstrual cycles are part of that journey. I am not willing to give up my womanhood for the mere possibility of man's new method of altering our course of well being.

Those of you out there that are on Lybrel already or will be starting to take it soon, I am very interested in hearing your views. Those of you out there who are debating on taking Lybrel, please make sure that you speak with your doctor first.

Good luck and choose safely!