New long-acting contraceptive Jaydess now available
Women in New Zealand now have an extra choice in contraception with the launch of Jaydess, a new long-acting, reversible
intrauterine contraceptive system from Bayer.
Jaydess offers protection from unintended pregnancy for up to three years and provides a new option for women who want
effective contraception that doesn’t require a daily routine.1
According to research, 41 percent of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended and, of those, 49 percent end in
termination.2 New Zealand saw 14,073 abortions performed in 2013, with the highest abortion rate occurring in women aged
20-24 years.3 The median age of women having abortions in New Zealand was 26 years.3
Bayer ANZ Medical Director Dr Jan Twomey says many young women are delaying child-bearing, sometimes until well into
their thirties, and for some women, the commitments associated with daily, weekly or monthly contraceptive routines mean
that short acting methods may not be the most suitable option.
However, awareness of alternative options, and in particular long acting reversible methods such as intrauterine
contraception, which are less dependent on user compliance, is low.5,6
“With this in mind, we believe a long-acting option such as Jaydess is an appropriate option for women to consider with
their health care providers,” says Dr Twomey.
“Jaydess highlights Bayer HealthCare’s continued commitment to drive innovation and choice to empower women with a
variety of contraceptive options at all stages of their reproductive lives.”
Jaydess works by continuously releasing a low dose of a progestogen hormone – levonorgestrel.1 It mainly acts locally
within the uterus, resulting in low systemic exposure to levonorgestrel.1 Furthermore, Jaydess can be removed at any
time with a rapid return to a woman’s usual level of fertility.1
The system measures only 28x30x1.55mm wide with a narrow insertion tube, providing women additional choice to find the
right option for their individual needs.
More information on Jaydess can be found at www.jaydess.co.nz or by speaking to a healthcare provider.
JAYDESS is an intrauterine system containing 13.5 mg levonorgestrel, which is slowly released over 3 years. JAYDESS is a
Prescription Medicine for contraception. JAYDESS must not be used during pregnancy, if there is any sign of pelvic or
genital tract infection, inflammation or cancer, if there is womb or cervical abnormality, undiagnosed abnormal
bleeding, active liver disease or if you are allergic to any ingredients in JAYDESS. JAYDESS should be inserted by a
doctor who has been trained in the insertion technique. Removal of JAYDESS is recommended if the following medical
conditions occur: an increased susceptibility to infections, acute infection not responding to treatment, migraine or
severe headache, jaundice, increased blood pressure, hormone-sensitive cancer, stroke, severe heart or blood vessel
disease. Blood clots, breast cancer, pelvic infections may occur during JAYDESS use, should this happen; your doctor may
consider removal of JAYDESS. JAYDESS should be used with caution if you have diabetes or a heart condition from birth
and are at risk of infection. JAYDESS must be removed if pregnancy (which might be outside the womb) or puncture of the
womb is suspected, or if JAYDESS is partially expelled. JAYDESS does not protect against HIV infections (AIDS) and other
sexually transmitted infections. Commonly reported side effects include headache/migraine, abdominal or back pain,
acne/oily skin, changes to menstrual pattern, cysts in the ovaries, infection/inflammation of the genital tract, painful
menstruation, nausea, hair loss, breast pain/discomfort, expelled device, and genital discharge. The possibility of rare
side effects such as puncture of the womb or pregnancy outside the womb should be discussed with your doctor, pharmacist
or health professional. If symptoms persist or you have side effects, see your doctor for advice. JAYDESS is an unfunded
medicine for contraception – a pharmacy charge and normal Doctor’s visit fees apply. JAYDESS has both risks and
benefits. Use only as directed. Consult your doctor to see if JAYDESS is right for you. For more information, read the
Consumer Medicine Information available at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Bayer New Zealand Limited, 3 Argus Place, Hillcrest,
Auckland 0627. Phone 0800 233 988. MWB L.NZ.04.2015.0213 TAPS NA7250
ENDS