The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new type of contraceptive pill that contains folic acid, one of the B vitamins.
Folic acid is known to help form new cells, and it is given to pregnant women to prevent serious birth defects of the nervous system, such as a neural tube that fails to close.
The new pill, Beyaz, is made by Bayer. It contains a progestogen and an oestrogen plus folate, and is based on the company's earlier pill, Yaz.
It is licensed as a contraceptive and to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD: severe depression, irritability, poor concentration and mood swings before periods). The FDA has also approved it for acne in girls over 14 whose periods have started and who use the pill for contraception.
Women are advised to take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day before and during pregnancy to protect the baby, and Beyaz contains 451 micrograms. This gives a woman a better chance of a healthy baby if she becomes pregnant soon after stopping the pill.
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