Radio Discussion Examines Birth Control Pills Forty Years After U.S. Approval

NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday included a discussion with Cynthia Pearson, director of the National Women's Health Network, and Carolyn Westhoff, medical director of the Family Planning Center at Columbia University, about the history, popularity and effectiveness of oral contraceptives, which were first approved in the U.S. 40 years ago.

Pearson discussed attitudes toward family planning when birth control pills were first introduced, marketing of the pills and their health risks. Pearson said that birth control pills have some "serious and rare risks," including blood clots, but added that the most recent and largest studies seem to indicate that the pills do not increase the risk of breast cancer in young women. She also discussed insurance coverage for contraceptives and FDA's approval last month of Wyeth's oral contraceptive Lybrel, which is designed to eliminate monthly menstrual periods.

Westhoff said men and women also are turning to other forms of contraception, including sterilization, which is the most popular choice after birth control pills for individuals ages 30 to 49. Westhoff said IUDs, which are the most popular contraception method worldwide, are safe and effective but not as widely used in the U.S. as in other countries, possibly because of misconceptions about safety. She also discussed variations of hormonal methods and experimental male birth control pills (Norris, "All Things Considered," NPR, 5/31). Audio and a partial transcript of the segment are available online.

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