New birth control options.

Abstract

A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee has recommended approving medical abortions using the two-step process involving administration of RU-486 followed by administration of misoprostol and has endorsed the use of oral contraceptives for emergency postcoital contraception. The FDA has recently approved the female condom, which is the first barrier method to protect against sexually transmitted diseases that is controlled by women. Contraceptive options may be further increased as a result of European studies on a 3-month oral contraceptive cycle that allows only 3 or 4 menses per year. This is consistent with what used to occur naturally when women were more often pregnant or nursing.