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April 05, 2000

Will USAID Provide Cyclofem?

If Cyclofem or "Lunelle" is approved by the USFDA, does that mean that USAID will supply it, as it does other contraceptive commodities?

Not necessarily. Proper introduction of a new method of contraception requires significant care and resources, and USAID "central procurement" of contraceptive commodities requires significant advance planning. In all likelihood, the cost of a single-month dose of Cyclo-Provera would cost in the same neighborhood as a 3-month dose of Depo-Provera - with additional service delivery costs and inconvenience to clients. We would need to be assured of a significant improvement in advantage to the client and demand from programs to justify the additional effort and resources in order to add it as a major procurement activity.

But the advent of such a new method certainly merits consideration, including its possible evaluation in "introduction" studies. And even if USAID didn't provide it, we could still support various programmatic efforts that include it, including social marketing.

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The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

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