Australian women are set to enjoy greater contraceptive choice than ever before, with a first of its kind pill to be reimbursed by the Federal Government. From 1 May, the progestogen-only oral contraceptive Slinda® (drospirenone 4mg) will become available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for pregnancy prevention.
Under the PBS, Slinda will cost just $7.70 (for concession card holders) or $31.60 (for general patients) for four months’ supply, saving women several hundred dollars per year. Women previously paid around $80 for three months’ supply. Currently, around 80,000 Australian women are paying privately for Slinda.
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.
Dr Foran went on to explain that Slinda contains only a progestogen hormone. It is not combined with an Estrogen. “Progestogenonly 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,” she said.
“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 longeracting 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 per cent having used contraception at some point in their lives.