Wyeth contraceptive that stops periods win U.S. OK

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A birth-control pill that may eliminate a woman's monthly menstrual period won U.S. approval on Tuesday, health officials said.

Lybrel, made by drugmaker Wyeth, is meant to be taken every day to indefinitely stop monthly menstrual bleeding and prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones widely used in other oral contraceptives.

Wyeth said Lybrel should be available in pharmacies in July.

Traditional birth control pills are usually taken for 21 days followed by seven days of placebo pills or no pills, which allows a period of bleeding to occur.

For years, some women have been stopping their periods by taking birth control constantly without the break. Lybrel is the first, however, that is approved for that use.

It takes time, however, for periods to be suppressed, and most women will have intermittent bleeding or spotting during the first year of use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

"The convenience of having no scheduled menstruation should be weighed against the inconvenience of unscheduled bleeding or spotting," an FDA statement said.

Wyeth studied more than 2,400 women ages 18 to 49. In the main study, 59 percent who took Lybrel for one year had no bleeding or spotting during the last month, the FDA said.