If you are breastfeeding, consider another birth control method until you are ready to stop breastfeeding. Birth control pills that contain estrogen, like Lo Loestrin Fe, may decrease the amount of breast milk your body makes. Birth control pills may not be a good choice for you if you have ever had jaundice yellowing of the skin or eyes caused by pregnancy also called cholestasis of pregnancy.
Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines and herbal products that you take. Take 1 pill at the same time every day. Take the pills in the order as directed on the blister pack. Do not skip pills or take at intervals exceeding 24 hours. If you miss any pills or if you vomit or have diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours after taking your pill, follow the instructions for " What should I do if I miss any pills? Talk to your healthcare provider about which day is best for you to start taking Lo Loestrin Fe.
It is important to take your birth control pill at the same time every day and in the order as directed on the blister pack. You may stop taking Lo Loestrin Fe whenever you wish. Consider a visit with your healthcare provider for a pre-pregnancy checkup before you stop taking Lo Loestrin Fe. Like pregnancy, birth control pills increase the risk of serious blood clots, especially in women who have other risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, or age greater than It is possible to die from a problem caused by a blood clot, such as a heart attack or a stroke.
Women with a history of depression should be carefully observed by their healthcare provider, and if depression comes back to a serious degree, Lo Loestrin Fe should be discontinued. When you take Lo Loestrin Fe you may have bleeding and spotting between periods, called unscheduled bleeding.
Approximately half of the women who use Lo Loestrin Fe have unscheduled bleeding or spotting in the first months of use, and about one-third of users continue to have unscheduled bleeding or spotting after one year of use. If the unscheduled bleeding or spotting is heavy, or lasts for more than a few days, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
It is not uncommon to miss your period. However, if you go two or more months in a row without a period, or you miss your period after a month where you did not take all your pills correctly, call your healthcare provider because you may be pregnant. Also notify your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or unusual breast tenderness. Stop taking Lo Loestrin Fe if you are pregnant. Your birth control pills may not be as effective if you miss any blue or white pills, especially if you miss the first few or the last few blue pills in a pack.
If you are not sure of what to do about the pills you have missed, you should call your healthcare provider. Many women report experiencing some mild side effects after starting the pill, most of which go away with time.
These can include:. Women with a history of stroke or high blood pressure or those who smoke might be at risk of more serious side effects such as blood clots, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
These include:. To prevent pregnancy, always use a backup form of birth control, such as condoms, diaphragms, sponges, or cervical caps, during the transition period after starting your birth control. How Does the Pill Work? Combination Pills Combination pills contain both the hormones estrogen and progestin, which work together to prevent ovulation from occurring. Progestin-only Pills Progestin-only pills work primarily by thickening the cervical mucus and thinning the uterine lining.
Side Effects Many women report experiencing some mild side effects after starting the pill, most of which go away with time. These can include: Changes in the duration or flow of your period Missed periods Spotting between periods Vaginal discharge Nausea Mood changes Headaches or migraines Breast tenderness Reduced libido Women with a history of stroke or high blood pressure or those who smoke might be at risk of more serious side effects such as blood clots, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
But, again, you'll need to be using another form of birth control during those 48 hours to fully prevent pregnancy.
But just because your new pill is "working" doesn't necessarily mean "working for you" — as in, you feel good on it and any side effects aren't driving you nuts. When you're trying a new type of birth control, it's a good idea to give yourself a few months before you decide whether or not you want to stick with it.
If you've been taking it for six months and you don't feel good on it, it's not regulating your cycle, or you're experiencing uncomfortable side effects, Dr. Shirazian recommends switching. However, these are just suggestions — it's crucial to check in with your doctor before you assume that your birth control has you completely covered, or before you decide to give up on it.
Birth control is great, but it's not completely perfect at protecting against pregnancy, and the pill doesn't protect against STIs, Dr. If you're not trying to get pregnant and have just started a new birth control pill, you should probably use a backup method for at least a month just to be safe. Even if you've been on the pill for a while, you might want to consider using a barrier method in tandem — it's always better to be safe than sorry. And remember, it can be confusing to start a new birth control method, even if it is just another type of pill.
If this one doesn't turn out to be the perfect one for you, you and your doctor can work together to figure it out. It works by thickening your cervical mucus and thinning the lining of your uterus , known as the endometrium. A thicker layer of mucus makes it harder for sperm to reach and fertilize the egg. A thinner endometrium makes it harder for a fertilized embryo to become implanted and grow during pregnancy.
A more common type of birth control pill contains both progestin and estrogen. This is called the combination pill. The estrogen helps keep your ovaries from releasing an egg into your fallopian tube , which is where it can become fertilized by a sperm, or to shed along with the lining of your uterus during your next period.
For most healthy people, birth control pills are safe for long-term use. There are exceptions, of course. Not everyone has the same experience with birth control pills. Progestin-only pills are appropriate for all nonsmokers. However, when it comes to those who smoke, the pills are only appropriate for those under Once you reach 35, discuss birth control options with your healthcare provider.
Progestin-only pills may no longer be the best choice for you. If you smoke, you must find another method of birth control to lower your risk for complications. Combination pills are generally safe for nonsmokers of any age. But those who smoke should avoid combination pills regardless of age. Estrogen increases the risk of blood clots.
As a long-term birth control method, birth control pills require consistent use. Take your birth control pills exactly as prescribed. Using them for a few months, stopping for a month or two, and then starting to use them again raises your risk for an unplanned pregnancy. Take two the next day when you remember. However, this does raise your risk for accidental pregnancy.
If you find yourself forgetting to take your pill every day, it may not be the right birth control method for you. Use condoms along with the pill. Buy now: Shop for condoms.
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