Wyeth has developed the drug Lybrel and ha applied for FDA approval. This is a very effective oral contraceptive pill. The usual regimen for oral contraceptives would be 21 active pills taken consecutively, followed by seven placebo pills. During the week of placebo pills, women bleed and do experience other menstrual symptoms. The period women experience during the week of placebo pills is called as a "withdrawal bleed," which "isn't entirely the same as" normal menstrual bleeding, the Journal reports. Lybrel, which does contain a lower dose of synthetic hormones in a daily dose than the traditional oral contraceptives, is taken 365 days a year with no placebo pills. According to Wyeth, Lybrel drug stopped 71% of women's bleeding after seven months. One study shows that almost all the women who took the drug began experiencing their periods within three months of terminating its use. Wyeth has applied for FDA approval of Lybrel, expects the agency to make a decision by late June.

The reason why the most traditional oral contraceptives have placebo-pill periods during which bleeding occurs was to increase women's comfort levels with taking something they might otherwise view as an unnatural disturbance of menstrual cycles," according to the Journal, but there is no real medical need to have the withdrawal bleed at all," Paula Amato, a gynecologist and professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said, adding that there are advantages to eliminating the withdrawal bleed, such as reducing pain, headaches, moodiness and bloating. Women without periods also could improve their productivity at work and would not have to purchase all those feminine products, which could save them money, she said. Women's perceptions of the Lybrel still could pose challenges to Wyeth, according to the company.