The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved Seasonique, an extended-cycle birth control pill that limits menstrual periods to just four times a year.

According to The Associated Press, the pill that has to be taken for 84 days is made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a unit of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

According to the company, keeping women on estrogen instead of dummy pills during the menstrual cycle limits hormonal fluctuation, bloating and breakthrough bleeding.

The company said the birth control is expected to hit the shelves as prescription drug in July and may cost about one dollar a pill

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