New contraceptive pill: ‘safer’ Slinda pill with no blood clot risk, no periods available in Australia

A new generation contraceptive pill with no blood clot risks, that can be used by almost all women will be available in Australia.

A new generation contraceptive pill that poses no blood clot risk and can be used by almost all women including those who are breast feeding or have high-blood pressure will be available in Australia from next week.

Slinda is a progestogen-only pill that may also help women who suffer from oestrogen-related headaches.

Half of all Australian women prescribed contraception are using pills that combine oestrogen and progestogen and between five and 12 women in every 10,000 who use them will develop blood clots from the drugs.

A large number of women – including those who suffer migraine with aura and those who are overweight or who have high blood pressure – can’t take the combined contraceptive pill.

This new progestogen only pill “would certainly be a safer option for them,” University of NSW Sexual Health Physician Dr Terri Foran said.

A new generation contraceptive pill that poses no blood clot risk and that may help women with oestrogen related migraines will be available in Australia from this week. Picture: supplied

It would also work for women aged over 51 who require contraception for 12 months after they enter menopause but for whom oestrogen is risky.

The pill prevents pregnancy by thickening mucus around the cervix to prevent sperm entry, thins the lining of the uterus and stops the release of a woman’s eggs, Family Planning NSW medical director Dr Deborah Bateson said.

Currently available progestogen-only “mini-pills” have a three hour window to take a catch up dose if you forget to take it.

Not so with this new pill.

“While the goal is not to miss a dose of the pill, if you do with Slinda you have 24 hours to take it, which is comparable to the dosing time frame for most combined oral contraceptives,” University of Sydney obstetrician and Gynaecologist Professor Rodney Baber said.

It also has another advantage – many women will cease having monthly periods when they use it.

With Slinda “the bleeding tends to get less and less over time, so that by the end of about 12 months, about 50 per cent of women had no bleeding,” Dr Foran said.

Dominica Simmons with her newborn baby William has had trouble finding the right contraceptive. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The new drug is not subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the private prescription costs $30 per month.

Side effects include increased risk of acne, abnormal bleeding, headache and breast pain, Dr Bateson said.

Women should not take Slinda if they are allergic to drospirenone (or any of the ingredients), have a blood clot in a blood vessel, lung or other organs, have liver disease, abnormal kidney or liver function, have cancer that is sensitive to sex-steroids or unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Dominica Simmons has a new one week old baby William and has had enormous trouble finding a contraceptive that worked for her.

“I’ve had an IUD, I’ve used the arm implant, I’ve used the NuvaRing. I’ve used various different pills, all of which caused severe side effects from a really dark pigmentation on my face to heavy bleeding from the implant and migraines from multiple pills” the 34-year-old teacher said.

The main appeal of the new pill is the 24 hour window to take a catch up dose if she forgets to take it and the chance she will stop bleeding altogether, she said.

Originally published as New contraceptive pill: ‘safer’ Slinda pill with no blood clot risk, no periods available in Australia