I'm interested in the 72-day forms of birth control pills. However, the only brand I can seem to find information about is Seasonale. Aren't there more options out there for my sexual needs? Thanks.

Dear Reader,

There are currently two FDA-approved extended-cycle birth control pills now on the market, Seasonale and Seasonique. Either will allow you to have a 91-day menstrual cycle. The pills function similarly to standard hormonal birth control pills. You take active pills for 83 days (12 weeks), then placebo pills in the 13th week. Your period happens in the 13th week, about once every three months. Another pill called Lybrel, currently awaiting FDA approval, is designed to stop menstruation for a full year!

Some women don't like the idea of fooling around with their hormones and menstrual cycle, and to some people a monthly period is a reassurance that their body is working properly and that they're not pregnant. Most women live comfortably with their monthly periods. But, altering the menstrual cycle to experience less frequent periods may appeal to women who have:

• heavy bleeding
• long, frequent, or very painful periods
• significant bloating, breast tenderness, or mood swings
• a disability that makes it difficult to use sanitary napkins or tampons
• a health condition worsened by menstruation, such as endometriosis, anemia, asthma, migraine, or epilepsy
• an upcoming event during which menstruation would be inconvenient

Is it dangerous to not have your period or to expose your body to synthetic hormones? Like other oral contraceptives, extended-cycle pills slightly increase your risk of blood clots. They should not be used by people with:

• high blood pressure
• a personal history of stroke, heart attack, or blood clots
• migraine with aura
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• breast or uterine cancer

Also, women over 35 who smoke shouldn't use any kind of hormonal birth control. Because this type of pill is new, potential long-term effects are not yet known. However, no serious adverse effects have been shown in three-year studies.

Possible side effects are also the same as conventional oral contraceptives, which include breakthrough bleeding, breast tenderness, nausea, headache, mood changes, leg cramps, acne, bloating, weight changes, and dark spots on the face.

Two other newly FDA-approved pills, Yaz and Loestrin 24 Fe, allow women to shorten their periods by about three days. Each month's packet contains 24 days of active pills along with four placebos. Research shows women using these pills have shorter, lighter periods.

If you're thinking about rescheduling good ol' Aunt Flo's monthly visit, it's a good idea to talk to a health care provider to make sure it's a healthy choice for you. If you're a student at Columbia, call Primary Care Medical Services at x4-7426 or log-in through Open Communicator to schedule an appointment.

Alice

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