Media Centre

Media Advisories

New extended-cycle birth control pills safe, effective: Canadian Ob/Gyn Society

Ottawa – According to a new guideline released today by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, new birth control pills designed to be taken in extended cycles are as safe and effective as existing pills taken in 28-day cycles. The guideline provides recommendations for Canadian health care professionals regarding the safety and clinical use of extended- or continuous-use hormonal contraceptives.

On July 6 the birth control pill Seasonale™, taken in a 91-day cycle that reduces the number of menstrual cycles a woman has to just four per year, became the first extended-use birth control pill approved in Canada.

“Birth control pills are among the world’s most studied drugs,” said Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre, President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). “Although Seasonale is the first oral contraceptive in Canada specifically approved for extended-use, women have commonly used existing birth control pills in a continuous or extended fashion to suppress withdrawal bleeding for various reasons.”

According to the SOGC guideline, continuous and extended regimens are as effective as cyclic regimens for preventing pregnancy. The guideline states that some women may benefit from continuous- or extended-use regimens for medical reasons. Some of the reasons include women who experience abnormal bleeding on cyclical pills; women who experience pain associated with endometriosis; or women who experience symptoms associated with hormonal withdrawal such as bloating, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

With regards to the safety of continuous- or extended-use oral contraceptives, the risks, benefits and side-effects are similar to existing cyclical regimen oral contraceptives.

“In terms of safety, the evidence shows us that taking birth control pills in longer-than-28-day cycles is very similar to the safety of taking them over a 28-day cycle,” said Dr. Edith Guilbert, a Quebec ob/gyn and Co-Chair of the Committee that drafted the new guideline. “For some women, suppressing monthly withdrawal bleeding may also offer some additional medical benefits.”

Existing oral contraceptives are taken in 28-day cycles, comprised of 21 days of active pills containing hormones followed by seven days of placebo pills or no pills at all. During these seven days, women have what is called a “withdrawal” bleed. Though this bleeding is similar to a menstrual period, it is not true menstruation. Rather, the bleeding is a result of the woman’s withdrawal from the hormones in the active pills.

Extended-use hormonal contraceptives are taken in longer cycles, meaning that women taking them will have fewer withdrawal bleeds throughout the year. Continuous-use contraceptives are taken 365 days a year, and eliminate withdrawal bleeding entirely.

The guideline is the product of an extensive review of scientific evidence on the safety and clinical use of continuous and extended-use hormonal contraceptives. The guideline looks at new and existing oral contraceptives used in extended or continuous regimens, and also provides recommendations on the extended or continuous use of other hormonal contraceptives, such as the contraceptive patch and the vaginal ring.

Contact:

Mike Haymes, SOGC Communications
Tel : (800) 561-2416 or (613) 730-4192 extension: 325
Fax: (613) 730-4314
E-mail address: mhaymes@sogc.com Website: www.sogc.org

Kelly Nolan, Director, SOGC Communications
Tel : (800) 561-2416 or (613) 730-4192 extension: 366
Fax: (613) 730-4314
E-mail address: knolan@sogc.com Website: www.sogc.org

About the SOGC

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is one of Canada’s oldest national specialty organizations. Established in 1944, the Society’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, outreach and education. The SOGC represents obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals working in the field of sexual reproductive health. For more information, visit www.sogc.org.