Mini-pill approved by FDA
Ippf Medical Bulletin 7(3): 3
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-0357 PMID: 12306724 Document Number: 67976
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed ot the use of oral contraceptives which contain only progestage - so-called minipills. The dose of progestagen is extremely small (.35 mg). Minipills do not block pituitary activity to the same extent as conventional combined pills, bu are thought to act on the cervical mucus, on the reaction of the endometrium to implantation, and possibly on sperm capacitation. There is reasonable evidence that the thromboembolic risks of oral contraceptives are associated with estrogen, and that these risks may be greatly reduced or eliminated with progestagen-only pills, although their use is not yet sufficiently widespread to enable this theory to be tested by observation. Progestagen-only pills cause menstrual cycle irregularities, but have few othe side effects. Their pregnancy rate is higher than that of combined oral contraceptives, but is comparable to that of the IUD or diaphragm. The decision of the FDA brings the U.S. into line with Britain and many other countries where these products are already licensed.