A new form of birth control is awaiting FDA panel review and approval, and we all know how long that might take, in this bureacratic nation!  This new birth control pill, meant to be taken by women, has a real kicker though.  This new pill may be less effective than the traditional pills of the 1960’s, which were extremely effective at preventing pregnancy in women from having sexual intercourse, but since they offer a wide range of other benefits for women, health advisors are sticking by the less effective form of the birth control pill, and pulling for its approval.

The health experts that are advocating the less potent form of the female contraceptive are advocating it not because of its reduced effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, but because of its likelihood to not cause other problems such as the more effective birth control pills have been suspected to cause, such as blood clots and heart problems in women who also smoke while taking the contraceptive. 

Many women, in fact, what attracts women who take the modern birth control pill, take it strictly to prevent getting pregnant, but there are also women who take it to help with acne vulgaris, and still others who help to regulate an irregular menstrual cycle.  The new pills contain less of the active hormones than their older counterparts, called estrogen and progestin, which are the hormones which facilitate the prevention of pregnancy, but also the hormones that cause the health problems. 

I guess the question for the FDA to consider here is, should they approve it simply because it has less side effects?  Or should they approve it with the strict stipulation that a stern warning be made to its clients, stating clearly that this pill, while having less side effects, may also have a trade off of being less effective in preventing pregnancy?  Hmm….something to ponder..