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News and Features Related to Birth Control

IUD Beats Pill at Preventing Pregnancy

May 23, 2012 -- Women using birth control pills may have a 20 times greater risk of an unplanned pregnancy than women using longer-acting forms of birth control like an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant, new research shows. A major new study shows the failure rate of birth control pills and other
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New Warning for Some Birth Control Pills

April 10, 2012 -- Birth control pills that contain the hormone drospirenone must now carry a warning that they may increase the risk for potentially fatal blood clots, according to the FDA. Drospirenone is a synthetic version of the female sex hormone progesterone. Birth control pills containing thi
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New Birth Control Pill Recall

Feb. 27, 2012 -- Seven lots of generic birth control pills have been recalled by Glenmark. It's the second recall of birth control pills in one month. The new recall is not linked to the previous recall of Pfizer birth control pills. The pills recalled by Glenmark, made and packaged in India, must b
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Condom Knowledge Not Common Knowledge

Feb. 24, 2012 -- Knowing how to use a condom correctly -- and actually using it -- may mean the difference between life and death. A new review of research shows errors in condom use -- such as putting it on too late, or not using condoms throughout sex, or not leaving space at the tip -- are common
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1 Million Birth Control Pill Packs Recalled

Feb. 1, 2012 -- Pfizer has recalled 1 million packs of Lo/Ovral-28 and generic norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol birth control pills. The pills, which must be taken in the correct sequence, may be mixed up. Women using the products risk pregnancy and should consult their doctors. Although the pills are m
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FDA: Stronger Labeling Needed for Newer Contraceptives

Dec. 9, 2011 -- An FDA panel has voted 15-11 that the benefits of newer oral contraceptives outweigh their risks of dangerous blood clots. But the panel voted 21-5 that the contraceptives’ labels don’t adequately reflect that risk/benefit profile. The newer oral contraceptives, which contain the man
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Plan B: Sebelius Overrules FDA, Nixes Sale Without ID

Dec. 7, 2011 -- Plan B One-Step -- the emergency contraceptive "morning-after pill" -- will remain hidden behind pharmacy counters. Girls under age 17 will still need a prescription. Teva Pharmaceuticals had petitioned the FDA to allow stores to put Plan B on shelves with other family-planning produ
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New Version of Contraceptive Implant Is Easier to Insert

Nov. 10, 2011 -- The drugmaker Merck has introduced a new version of its long-acting contraceptive implant Implanon, designed for easier insertion and removal by health care professionals. The new version of the contraceptive is called Nexplanon. Like Implanon, it is a progestin-only hormonal birth
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Study: Newer Birth Control Pills May Double Blood Clot Risk

Oct. 25, 2011 -- Women who take newer birth control pills appear to get dangerous blood clots in their veins about twice as often as women on an older pill formulation. That was the finding of one of the largest studies ever to look at the link between blood clots and hormonal contraception. Still,
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Birth Control Pills Recalled

Sept. 16, 2011 -- Qualitest Pharmaceuticals is voluntarily recalling multiple lots of its birth control pills because of a packaging error that may leave women without adequate contraception and at risk for unintended pregnancy. Select blister packs of the birth control pills were rotated 180 degree
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