September 22, 2009

Drugs industry Names the contraceptive pill as the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years

Post Date: 18-Sep-2009 
 
The Contraceptive Pill has been crowned the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years, by leading figures in the drugs industry.

The pill eclipsed Coca-Cola, the electric light bulb and penicillin in a star-studded competition organised to celebrate Chemist+Druggist magazine's 150th birthday.

The final four inventions went head-to-head in a live debate, with top industry peers voting overwhelmingly for the contraceptive pill to win.

Locum pharmacist and Royal Pharmaceutical Society board member Lindsey Gilpin, who championed the oral contraceptive, said she was "thrilled" with the result.

She said: "The Contraceptive Pill has made a tremendous difference to women and their families. As a mother of one girl and two boys all I want is equality."

The Pill liberated a generation of women and inspired the free love movement of the 1960s, she said. For the first time, women had complete control over when they fell pregnant in a simple, convenient tablet, Ms Gilpin said.

The Pill inspired huge social change and kick started the free love era of the 1960s, Ms Gilpin said.

It is still one of the most effective and popular means of contraception over 40 years later, the pharmacist added.

Her arguments won over a panel of voters including senior figures at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, National Pharmacy Association, university professors and drugs manufacturers.

The pill was invented by chemist, Dr Carl Djerassi in 1951 and launched in the UK in 1961 for married women only.

The Contraceptive Pill ensures almost 100% protection against pregnancy by controlling hormone levels to stop ovulation.

Over 100 million women worldwide use the Contraceptive Pill today.

The competition marked the 150th anniversary of the award winning Chemist+Druggist magazine.

Source: http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news

Posted thanks to kind permission from our friends at News-Medical.Net.

September 22, 2009 in Barriers , Contraception , Contraceptives , Oral Contraceptives | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

August 20, 2008

Female Condoms Effective But Underused Because Lack of Investment, Report Says

Public Release Date: 11-August-2008

In the 15 years since female condoms were available, studies have repeatedly shown that female condoms are widely accepted and that many women prefer them to male condoms, but the hesitance of policymakers to promote and invest in their use have hindered their ability to protect women from HIV/AIDS, according to an Oxfam International report presented Thursday at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, Toronto's Globe and Mail reports.

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August 20, 2008 in Barriers , Condoms , Contraception , Contraceptives , Educational , Health Care , HIV/AIDS , Medical Access , News , Pharmaceuticals , Public Policy , STD , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

June 25, 2008

New York City Health Department Approves $2M Contract To Distribute 2M Female Condoms

Public Release Date: 17-June-2008

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene recently approved a $2 million contract to purchase two million female condoms that will be made available in health clinics and organizations, the New York Daily News reports.

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June 25, 2008 in Barriers , Condoms , Contraception , Contraceptives , Health Care , Pharmaceuticals , Public Policy , STD , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

March 26, 2008

Study Examines Diaphragm Use, Acceptability for STI Prevention

Public Release Date: 20-March-2008

Abstract of "Evidence-Based Planning of a Randomized Controlled Trial on Diaphragm Use for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections," Behets et al. Sexually Transmitted Diseases, March 2008.

Frieda Behets of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and colleagues examined whether commercial sex workers in Madagascar would accept and use a diaphragm to prevent sexually transmitted infections in an effort to determine potential obstacles in future research on the effectiveness of a diaphragm for use in STI prevention.

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March 26, 2008 in Barriers , Contraception , Contraceptives , Medical Access , Pharmaceutical Products , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

January 16, 2008

FemCap's HIV Prevention Presentation

Alfred Shihata of FemCap gave a presentation at the HIV Prevention Conference in Atlana last month, and was kind enough to share it with us!

Click here to see the presentation!

January 16, 2008 in Barriers , Contraception , Contraceptives , Educational , Femcap , Pharmaceutical Products , Vendors , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

July 31, 2007

Synova Launches Advertising Campaign for Today Sponge Contraceptive

Public Release Date: 31-July-2007
      
Synova Healthcare recently launched a new Web site and an advertising campaign to market the Today Sponge female contraceptive in the U.S., the New York Times reports (Levere, New York Times, 7/30).

The sponge, which is constructed of soft polyurethane foam and is inserted into the vagina for up to 24 hours, provides barrier protection and the spermicide nonoxynol-9 to prevent pregnancy. The device is 89% to 91% effective in preventing pregnancy but does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

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July 31, 2007 in Barriers , Contraception , Contraceptives , News , Pharmaceuticals , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

April 18, 2007

Difficult Births in Obese Women Due to Uterus Failure

Public Release Date: 18-April-2007

Liverpool scientists have uncovered the reason why overweight women have more Caesarean sections; they are at significant risk of their uterus contracting poorly in childbirth.

In a study of 4,000 pregnant women, researchers found that almost 1 in 5 overweight women had to undergo an emergency Caesarean Section birth because the muscles in their uterus failed. The research suggests obesity impairs the ability of the uterus to contract sufficiently in order to dilate the cervix and deliver the baby.

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April 18, 2007 in Barriers , Medical Access , News , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

April 16, 2007

Health Disparities in Access to Healthcare

Public Release Date: 16-April-2007 

Minority individuals are much more likely to develop and die from cancer than the general U.S. population.

Previous research points to lack of health insurance, poverty, language and cultural barriers, and inadequate access to early detection services and good medical care as causes. Research reported today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) suggests that genetics, in addition to socioeconomic status, are important factors accounting for the disparity of cancer incidence and mortality between African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians.

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April 16, 2007 in Barriers , Cancer , Health Care , Medical Access , News , Women’s Health | Permalink | TrackBack (0)