Contraceptive News and Research

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Also in global health news: Street pharmacies; China health care; Hospital safety; African cardinals; Cells phones for health

Agence France-Presse examines Adjegounle, the "drugs" district in Benin. Although some are able to support their families by selling drugs at "street pharmacies," a minimum of "250 deaths and 340 cases of chronic illnesses linked to such drugs were recorded between April 2007 and June 2008," according to a medical thesis, the news service writes.

19 Oct 2009

Abortions worldwide decline, unsafe abortions kill 70,000 women annually, report says

Fewer abortions are taking place worldwide because of increased contraceptive use, a study by the Guttmacher Institute has found, Reuters reports. The study also indicates that 20 million "unsafe abortions, mostly in poorer countries and often carried out by the women themselves using inappropriate drugs or herbal potions, or by untrained traditional healers," still occur each year and kill 70,000 women annually (Kelland, 10/13).

15 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: Ban addresses women's health; Afghanistan's health services; PMI Africa grants; Q&As

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on Monday called for countries around the world to "renew their commitment to educate girls, end sexual violence, and provide access to modern birth control," the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

14 Oct 2009

USAID awards Abt Associates 'Strengthening Health Outcomes Through Private Sector' grant

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a five-year grant, Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector, to Abt Associates, Inc. Sub-recipients under the grant are Banyan Global, Jhpiego, Marie Stopes International, the Monitor Group, and O'Hanlon Health Consulting, LLC.

13 Oct 2009

Study reveals that teenage boys are less responsible than girls in preventing chlamydia

Teenage boys in Sweden take less responsibility than girls for preventing the spread of chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections, according to a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

13 Oct 2009

Birth control pills may have an impact on choice of partners

There is no doubt that modern contraception has enabled women to have unprecedented control over their own fertility. However, is it possible that the use of oral contraceptives is interfering with a woman's ability to choose, compete for and retain her preferred mate?

8 Oct 2009

Multiple intervention programs can reduce teen pregnancies

When teenagers receive health education and information about contraception, the number of them having unintended pregnancies decreases, finds a large new review.

7 Oct 2009

Vantia Therapeutics announces the start of Phase II proof-of-concept trials of its VA111913 drug

Vantia Therapeutics today announces that its novel oral small molecule drug for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation) has entered Phase II proof-of-concept trials. In addition, Vantia announces results of the successful Phase I trial of VA111913, which showed the product candidate to be safe and well tolerated.

6 Oct 2009

Jon O'Brien's statement on healthcare reform

"This Sunday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops holds its annual Respect Life Sunday. On this occasion, we would like to encourage the US bishops to also respect the truth. A recent publication by the USCCB, a brochure entitled Contraception: The Fine Print, and recent polls on healthcare reform prove that the bishops' desire to promote their own views on reproductive health leads them to play fast and loose with the truth.

5 Oct 2009

FDA approves Bayer's IUD Mirena for treating heavy menstrual bleeding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Mirena (levonorgestrel intrauterine system) to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in women who use intrauterine contraception as their method of pregnancy prevention. This is the first intrauterine device approved by the FDA for this additional indication.

3 Oct 2009

$7.2 million grant awarded to develop microbicide-releasing vaginal ring

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University a four-year, $7.2 million grant to develop a microbicide-releasing vaginal ring to prevent HIV transmission.

3 Oct 2009

HRA Pharma launches its new generation emergency contraceptive in Europe

HRA Pharma (http://www.hra-pharma.com), a privately-held, European pharmaceutical company that designs products, devices and supporting services in reproductive health and endocrinology, announced today that ellaOne(R) (ulipristal acetate, 30mg), its new generation emergency contraceptive, has been launched in France, Germany and the United Kingdom via local HRA teams. HRA Pharma will progressively launch ellaOne in all European countries over the coming months.

1 Oct 2009

Finance panel continues march to the floor, considers a number of health bill amendments

At the end of a long day of amendments to the Finance Committee's health bill, Sen. Chuck Grassley won approval of a provision to raise rural doctor Medicare reimbursement rates. Meanwhile, other senators hope to make adjustments in the bill.

1 Oct 2009

Lecture to focus on the increasing need to fund and develop methods of contraception

On October 2nd, 2009, Henry Gabelnick PhD, Executive Director of The CONRAD Program, will give the prestigious Alan F. Guttmacher lecture at the 2009 Association for Reproductive Health Professionals conference being held in Los Angeles, California.

29 Sep 2009

The Adiana permanent contraception system supported by UK's NICE

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), in its updated guidance for hysteroscopic sterilization, supports the use of Hologic's Adiana((R)) permanent contraception system.

25 Sep 2009

NICE updates its guidance on hysteroscopic sterilization

Conceptus, Inc., developer of the Essure procedure, the first proven non-incisional permanent birth control method available, today announced that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom has updated its guidance on hysteroscopic sterilization to support the use of the Essure permanent birth control procedure.

24 Sep 2009

Funding for family planning and reproductive health remains uncertain

Reproductive rights will be "key to the foreign policy of this administration," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. Research shows that smaller families can boost the economy of developing countries. And policymakers are increasingly recognizing the connections between population and other global issues such as education and the environment.

22 Sep 2009

Drugs industry names the contraceptive pill as the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years

The Contraceptive Pill has been crowned the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years, by leading figures in the drugs industry.

18 Sep 2009

Higher teen births correlated to conservative religious beliefs

Rates of births to teenage mothers are strongly predicted by conservative religious beliefs, even after controlling for differences in income and rates of abortion. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Reproductive Health have found a strong association between teenage birth rates and state-level measures of religiosity in the U.S.

17 Sep 2009

Teva announces availability of its Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive over-the-counter

Teva Women’s Health, Inc. announced today that its Plan B® One-Step (levonorgestrel) tablet, 1.5 mg emergency contraceptive is now available at licensed U.S. retail pharmacies. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 10, Plan B® One-Step can help prevent an unintended pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure with just one pill in one dose.

16 Sep 2009