European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                No perfection i birth control. Eti by Larry Doyle and Gayle Young United press International in a 1985 Harris poll eight Oul of 10 american said they believed a new form of birth Calrol  is one year Laler and authorities say one is not even on the horizon. In fact americans Are losing then Contra Ceplice options instead of gaining Mote. The Musl common intrauterine devices have been pulled lips the . Market. And the maker of a popular spermicide has bean hit Wilt a $4.7 million birth select judgment endangering the exis Lenss of All pc Micides no new devices or drugs have been introduced in the past year but an inject Able hormone already approved for International use by the world health organization was rejected by the . Food and drug administration several potential new contraceptive methods remain bottled up in the Fra s regulatory mechanism to la the Confidence americans have put in medical science thai has fostered both apathy Lor new development and zealous Legal action against birth control methods thai fail to be perfect / Consumers in the United states expect perfection in birth control something to will never find in anything complains or. Louise Tyrer Vico president for medical affairs for the planned parenthood federation of America. At the same time Tyrer says neither the Public nor the Federal government is willing to do much to support a change. The imperfect methods available Are simultaneously tolerated and then vigorously litigated to near extinction. No Wilh the Oral contraceptive and with abortion Sale and Legal somehow or other it appears that Many Young people Don t have Mayo concerns about this area  she says. They feel that their needs have been Mel " the result. Tyrer says is the climate for contraceptive marketing and development in the United states is Bleak and in fact has reached the Point of  research in new birth control methods is lacking Only two major . Drug companies. Ortho pharmaceutical and Wyeth laboratories remain Active in contraceptive development. A decade ago. At least 10 companies were. Government funding Lor this sex related Issue is also not a priority. In 1995. $17 million went to Basic contraceptive research which May seem like quite a bit Tyrer says until you realize this amount of Money is spent every 15 minutes to maintain the . Defense  the problem i nol Lack of possibilities the Alan Guttmacher Institute estimates so separate forms of new contraception half already tested on humans could be ready Lor general Usa within the next five years. Another 35 promising methods Are on the drawing Board. Bui it will take herculean efforts to get these methods into the hands of american Consumers family planning experts say. The average new contraceptive requires $15 million in research funding and 10 years to gain Fra approval. The Guttmacher Institute estimates it would Cost $23 million to get marketing approval Lor the 20 most promising birth control methods already in development. And approval is no guarantee a . Company will want to Market the new methods. Given a Legal climate in which litigation costs quickly Eal up profits and sometimes total revenues Many in the pharmaceutical Industry Are not eager to invite another Opportunity Lor financial disaster family planning agencies thus face an Uphill struggle a reluctant government a Battle scarred drug Industry and an apathetic. Uninformed and finicky Public. Faced with fewer choices or future prospects Many women in the United states Are turning to Barrier methods of birth control such As the diaphragm condoms and the rhythm method family planners say. These require forethought and have much higher failure rates even when used properly. They result in More unwanted Piegan cies and More abortions. The Guttmacher Institute predicts 123,000 women a year Dpi become pregnant acid Nelly from the less effective birth control methods they will choose now that the most popular luos Are no longer available. Hall of those pregnancies Are expected to end in abortion. Other women Are taking different measures. The rate of sterilization the most popular form of contraception. Has increased steadily to 33 percent of All women practising birth control. The number of vasectomies has actually slightly decreased Tria last two years. Manufacturers of condom report a 10 percent increase in sales this year and say their male contraceptive products Are being purchased increasingly by women. But family planners who say the Outlook on new contraceptives is grim also warn the results May be even Grimmer. We already have one of the highest abortion rates in the developed world and the highest teen pregnancy Rale in the developed world says Richard Lincoln of to Guttmacher Institute. This. Is More than convenience. This has become a Public health crisis that no one is responding to because they think new options will be available to them any Day now. Seriously they will  he says. Eventually Well have to Deal with  More women buying condoms by Gayle Young United press International n a Corner drugstore Ift an old Brooklyn neighbourhood the condoms Are nol hidden under the counter but packaged in Pink and Turquoise boxes under a brightly lit family planning Center sign. An estimated 30 percent of Consumers tossing the Bones into their shopping baskets along with shampoo and toothpaste Are women. They we concerned about unwanted pregnancy about the Side effects of he Pill about sexually transmitted diseases said Mark Klein spokesman for Trojan Brand condoms. Exact figures Are difficult Loco me by but Industry officials say the number of women buying condoms has risen sharply in the past Faw years and say fear of sex baby transmitted diseases including aids is responsible. Based on interviews with pharmacists the Industry s drug store news recently estimated 50 percent of the boor Ninion condoms sold in the in led Stales so far this year were purchased by women. Spokesmen Lor . Condom manufacturers Pul the figure at 20 percent to 30 percent but said it is increasing steadily. Overall sales in the $200 million a year Industry Are expected to increase 10 percent this year according to drug . It really has turned around women Aren t shy at All about asking the Man to use one said Sam Dlugatch of National Sanita a laboratories in Lincolnwood. Iii. The condom companies have been Quick to respond to the trend for the Fesl time appealing directly toward women to buy a product used exclusively by men. Dlugatch said his company introduced a new line of lady products in May packaged in boxes with Pink and Turquoise trim. Trojan owned by Carter Wallace inc. And with a 50 percent share of Hie Market launched a Multi million Dollar advertising Campaign in october in major women s magazines same of which accepted condom ads or the first Lime. The colourful fun Page ads feature headlines that read real sexual Equality and men could use some Protection from women. And vice  the tatter advertisement continues with the Tot of sexually transmitted diseases is tons. And growing. And on the list Are some diseases that Are very difficult to cure. Even  Klein who is vice president of marketing for Trojan said the advertisements respond to questions women have about condoms in particular and birth control in general ii is a male product but women Are becoming a Bill share of the Market and we Are responding to that he said. This is the 1980s the idea is to Shore responsibility Suyom drug ton buyer said he believes More women Are purchasing condoms simply because they Are More accessible. No one wanted to ask when they were under the counter especially a woman said Rich Hetty spokesman for a Chain of 151 drug stores along the East coast called Fay s. A woman shopping can just reach for  he said. You knew in a final Way. Women would rather depend on themselves in something As rep want lot hem As  Page 16 a stars and stripes tuesday. November 18.1986