Oh, wow. There’s a “new” contraceptive pill that will make monthly periods a thing of the past. Called Lybrel, it’s “the latest approved oral contraceptive to depart from the 21-days-on, seven-days-off regimen that had been standard since birth-control pill sales began in the 1960s. The new pill, manufactured by Wyeth, is the first designed to put off periods altogether when taken without break.” However: “About half the women enrolled in studies of Lybrel dropped out, said Dr Daniel Shames, a deputy director in the FDA’s drugs office. Many did so because of the irregular and unscheduled bleeding and spotting that can replace scheduled menstruation.”

But, you know, years ago when I was on the pill, the ordinary old 21+7 version, the doc said if I didn’t want to have a period, just leave the seven sugar pills and start on the next packet of 21. Which made sense, and worked when I tried it. I think I had a tiny bit of spotting but it came regularly, once a month, so no problem there. So what’s the big deal with this Lybrel stuff? Inquiring minds want to know…