Sayana® Press (medroxyprogesterone acetate), the first subcutaneously delivered long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) has been launched by Pfizer. It is administered by a doctor or nurse, given under the skin into the thigh or abdomen every 13 weeks using a prefilled Uniject injection.
The use of LARCs has doubled over the past 10 years and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) provides an additional option for women not wanting to have to remember to take a daily contraceptive. The new technology of the Uniject device makes subcutaneous MPA convenient and straightforward for a doctor or nurse to administer.
Commenting on the launch, Dr Sharon Cameron, Part-time Senior Lecturer (Hon), University of Edinburgh “Women forgetting to take their pill every day is one of the most common causes of unplanned pregnancy. Sayana® Press provides an attractive and effective option for women with busy lifestyles looking for the convenience of a long-acting contraceptive.”
The active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), is similar to the natural hormone progesterone produced in the ovaries. It prevents ovulation and provides contraception for 13 weeks (+/- 1 week). In the two phase III clinical studies of 1,787 women, there were no pregnancies observed with subcutaneous MPA. Over half of the participants in the studies experienced amenorrhea after 12 months and over half of women did not report any significant weight changes while taking subcutaneous MPA.
