title: POPs less widely used.
abstract: Progestin-only pills (POPs) are less widely used and available than combined pills. For example, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shipped only 3 million packets of POPs worldwide in 1994, compared with 62 million packets of combined pills, according to Mark Rilling, program analyst with USAID's Office of Population. While USAID considers POPs to be an acceptable contraceptive option for some women and intends to continue providing them, the worldwide market for them is small, Rilling says. The London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) reports a similar trend. IPPF shipped 16 times more combined pills than POPs during 1994, says Dr. Carlos Huezo, the organization's medical director. New efforts to clarify the role of progestin-only pills may make them more acceptable. For example, new studies have provided additional evidence that POPs do not harm breastfed infants whose mothers use them. A new label that reflects these findings, and clarifies other distinctions from combined pills, is being developed for POPs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based on a draft developed by FHI. The pills also are being more actively promoted among some family planning organizations, and may prove useful for community-based distribution.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Blaney
mesh_terms: D003267:Contraception; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005193:Family Planning Services; D006285:Health Planning; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D009934:Organization and Administration; D045167:Progesterone Congeners
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D045167:Progesterone Congeners
keywords: Contraception; Contraceptive Agents; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptive Agents, Progestin; Contraceptive Availability; Contraceptive Distribution; Contraceptive Methods; Distributional Activities; Family Planning; Oral Contraceptives; Organization And Administration; Progestins, Low-dose; Program Activities; Programs