Washington ? An extended-cycle birth control pill that limits women to just four menstrual periods a year received federal approval Thursday.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Seasonique, spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said. The pill is made by Duramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., a unit of Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Woodcliff Lake, N.J.

The pill is similar to the company’s Seasonale, which was approved by the FDA in 2003. Both include a standard birth control pill that’s taken for 84 days.

With Seasonique, however, women then take low-dose estrogen pills for seven days, instead of the sugar pills that accompany Seasonale and most other birth control pills.