New progestogen-only contraceptive pill PBS listed

From 1 May, Besins Healthcare’s progestogen-only oral contraceptive Slinda (drospirenone 4mg) will become available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for pregnancy prevention.

Currently, around 80,000 Australian women are paying privately for Slinda. The new subsidy is in addition to the Federal Government’s $573 million women’s health funding announcement made in early February.

Women’s health experts and advocates, including Dr Terri Foran, Sexual Health Physician, are welcoming the new funding decision.

“Access to a wide range of contraceptive options is a fundamental reproductive right,” said Dr Foran. “This funding move to include Slinda on the PBS will be welcomed by a large number of Australia women and their health providers.”

She explained further, “Progestogen-only pills are especially suitable for older women, women at increased risk of blood clots, those who suffer migraine attacks, breast-feeding mothers, those who smoke, are overweight, or have high blood pressure.”

In its assessment, the PBAC said that the claim that Slinda has “superior efficacy” compared to progestogen-only pills containing levonorgestrel was considered and was “plausible”. “Although the magnitude of superior efficacy is uncertain,” it stated.

Slinda also has a longer pill-free window compared to other progestogen-only pills. This means that if a woman is less than 24 hours late in taking her next tablet, contraceptive protection is not reduced.

“With any oral contraceptive, it is important not to miss a dose. The Pill needs to be taken consistently,” said Dr Foran. “But sometimes life gets in the way and it’s nice to know that if a woman forgets to take Slinda, she has up to 24 hours to take the missed pill and stay protected.”

Dr Foran stressed that women deserve to be informed about the full range of options available to them so that they can make informed contraceptive choices.

“With greater education about contraceptive options and the risks and benefits associated with each, we are seeing increasing use of both progestogen-only birth control methods and the longer-acting methods in this country,” she said.

It is estimated that around two-thirds of Australian women between the ages of 18 and 44 years currently use some form of contraception, with 83% having used contraception at some point in their lives.

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