Pfizer Inc. has announced on Thursday, Sept. 24 that UK women will now have access to injectable contraceptive Sayana Press (medroxyprogesterone acetate) in their homes. As The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has extended the label of the said drug, women may now be able to self-inject their dose of contraceptives without having to visit their doctors or local clinics.
Each shot is good for 13 weeks and healthcare suppliers are allowed to dispose one year's worth of contraceptives to consumers in one transaction. However, women should still see their health care providers for their annual check-ups. Aside from that, women are required to undergo instructional training from professional medical providers to ensure that they administer their injectable contraceptives correctly at home.
Women may require different choices when it comes to fulfilling their contraceptive needs, said Seema Patel, a medical director at Pfizer. These options should be appropriate depending on the period of their lives that they are currently in.
Pfizer is aware that women tend to be busy and that it is very hard for them to drop by their healthcare providers regularly to get their contraceptives, said Patel. With Sayana Press, women who have strong desires to control their family planning schemes but have limited time, are given an alternative choice. This is particularly applicable to about 5 million women in the UK, who opt to have hormonal contraceptives.
Pfizer had also announced that the self-injectable contraceptive would only be available for teenagers aged 12-18 years old, if other contraceptive approaches are regarded as inappropriate or unacceptable for them.
The pharmaceutical company also expressed their intent to extend the updated label of Sayana Press to other nations, specifically those belonging to the developing world, including Senegal, Uganda and Burkina Faso. In these countries, data have shown that injectable contraceptives have increased demands and significantly met requirements. As of the moment, Sayana Press has not received approval from any country outside of Europe.
Sayana Press is a long-acting and reversible contraceptive that comes in a prefilled syringe intended for single use.
Hormonal injectable contraceptives are typically used by women all around the world, specifically in developing countries. This method is known for its discrete and convenient features that help women improve compliance.
Photo: Steven Depolo | Flickr
