Meet Natazia: A New Birth Control Pill You'll Want To Know
It may not surprise you to hear that earlier last week, Bayer Pharmaceuticals announced the release of their much anticipated and novel combined oral contraceptive pill, Natazia. With a name that sounds more like a Disney princess than a hormone-controlling drug, don't be surprised if the first image that comes to your mind is that of three or four fit and tanned 20-somethings water dancing in a pool or frolicking through a flowered meadow. Like breakthroughs in the tampon industry, birth control advances make us want to rejoice, do cartwheels on the beach, and paint pretty pictures with bright colors on large art canvases, right? That's what the commercials would have you believe, anyway.
But this time it's different, suggested a Bayer press release. Until now, all combined hormonal birth control methods sold in the United States--pills, the patch, even the ring--have differed only in their progestin components. The estrogen, in all of them, was the same--ethinyl estradiol. The same is not true for various other countries in Europe, who have been using the new, synthetic estrogen found in Natazia since 2009.
All this is about to change. On May 6, 2010 the Food and Drug Administration approved Natazia as the first ever birth control pill to use estradiol valerate in the United States. In combination with the progestin, dienogest, a synthetic progesterone with anti-androgenic (or anti-testosterone) properties, Natazia is expected to best other birth control pills in controlling heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding.
In a study that gave women either Qlaira (the European version of Natazia) or placebo pills for 90 days, Bayer found that women on the true pill had decreased menstrual bleeding over all. The same could be said however, about a wealth of birth control pills and without closely examining the study in detail, it's difficult to know the pill's true implications on menorrhagia.
One of the main fallacies with the new pill is that researchers neglected to evaluate its efficacy in women with a BMI over 30. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 30-percent of all Americans are obese (defined as a BMI greater than 30).
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment5 Comments
I just started taking this and soo far so good, the only bad part is I have had some crazy dreams every night since I've been on this pill and mild insomnia but other than that no migranes no wieght gain and no period! So ill take the crazy dreams anyday over everything I use to get with my monthly gift...so I give it 8 out of 10 stars
November 23, 2010 - 2:59pmThis Comment
I was on the Depo shot but stopped taking that back in April 10 and by september 10 I started my 1st natural period and from september to november I had 7 periods. I was really heavy in menstrual bleeding and cramps so my Ob wanted me to take Nataxia to help with all scenarios since all other forms of bc I was allergic to. I am on day 1 of my second pack now and I have had no period, I have only had a rea mild case of irritability, mild case of insomnia and no weight gain. I would recommend this to anyone and in fact my mother just got samples from her doctor last week. Surprisingly I'm doing great with Nataxia, and also I was a pack a day smoker and I don't know if Nataxia has a cessation capability but I haven't really wanted a cigarette, I have a couple puffs here and there but I won't go through 1 pack in almost 2 weeks.
December 14, 2010 - 8:31amNatazia was a nightmare for me. I had a terrible case of insomnia that progressed the longer I was on it. I felt my heart pounding in my chest at night, I started having panic attacks and by the time I stopped taking it I was sleeping only three hours a night. I'm a completely different person since I stopped taking it. What a relief.
January 15, 2011 - 6:17pmMMMMmm well I am hoping I dont have any bad side effects. I was just prescribed this as I have heavy Heavy prolonged bleeding & Ultrasound is normal. FSH levels normal. Period over a month now. I guess I will take a chance & get back to let you all know
August 15, 2011 - 8:25pmI am 27 years old and seen six different OB, none could regulate my period. One month I'd be on my period all 30 days and miss it for eight months to a year. Which not only did I have troubles getting my period, but when I did...I would run two rolls of toilet papers, run out of pads, it was a horrible experience. Until I finally came across a doctor who prescribed Natazia. He put me on a four month trial and within the first pack...I was amazed at the results. I am on the third pack, and I've had four day periods, regular bleeding, and the only side effect I have is tender breasts. But I recommend it. I love it, I've never felt more relieved and I can't believe I will type this but...I am happy to get my period on its schedule, last the same amount of time, and not worry about my past experiences with heavy bleeding.
January 17, 2012 - 2:13pm