How Can Pandia Health Help
Choosing the right birth control can be challenging, especially with so many options available. Pandia Health can take a HUGE chunk of your stress away. If you live in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MI, NV, TX, TN, PA, WA, or WY, sign up for online consultation with one of our expert doctors they can help you find a prescription that best fits your health and lifestyle needs.
Already have a prescription you love? No problem! for our FREE delivery service to get your pill packs shipped directly to your mailbox. We deliver to all 50 states. With Pandia Health, you can #SkipTheTrip to the pharmacy and feel confident that you will never run out of birth control.
Dosage Forms And Strengths
Lo loestrin Fe is available in blister packs.
Each blister pack contains in the following order:
- 24 blue, round tablets imprinted with WC on one side and 421 on the other and each containing 1 mg norethindrone acetate and 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol.
- 2 white, hexagonal tablets imprinted with WC on one side and 422 on the other and each containing 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol.
- 2 brown, round tablets imprinted with WC on one side and 624 on the other and each containing 75 mg ferrous fumarate. The ferrous fumarate tablets do not serve any therapeutic purpose.
What Happens If I Miss A Dose
Lo Loestrin Fe 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 miss ONE blue pill, follow these steps:
- Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take two pills in 1 day.
- You do not need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.
If you miss TWO blue pills in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 of your pack, follow these steps:
- Two pills on the day you remember and two pills the next day.
- Then one pill a day until you finish the pack.
If you miss TWO pills in a row in Week 3 or Week 4 of your pack, follow these steps:
- Throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day.
- You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.
- You could become pregnant if you have sex during the first 7 days after you restart your pills. You MUST use a non-hormonal birth control method as a back-up for those 7 days after you restart your pills.
If you miss THREE OR MORE pills in a row at any time, follow these steps:
If you forget either of the 2 brown “reminder” pills in Week 4, follow these steps:
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Before You Start Taking
1. Decide what time of day you want to take your pill. It is important to take it at the same time every day.
2. Look at your pill pack: The pill pack has 24 “active” blue pills and 2 âactiveâ white pills for Weeks 1, 2, 3 and part of Week 4. The pill pack also has 2 “reminder” brown pills for the last part of Week 4.
3. Find:
- Where on the pack to start taking pills,
- In what order to take the pills , and
- The week numbers as shown in the picture above
4. Have ready at all times:
- Another kind of birth control to use as a back-up in case you miss pills
- An extra pill pack
Tips On When To Start Birth Control Pills
But it doesnt come without problems. It turns out that estrogen increases side effects as well as the risk of dangerous blood clots .
So researchers created an option with low levels of estrogen. And the star of those low-dose combined pills? Loestrin. Its got the lowest available dose of estrogen of all combined OCPs.
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What Should I Know About My Period When Taking
When you take Lo Loestrin Fe you may have bleeding and spotting between periods, called unscheduled bleeding. Approximately half of the women who use this medication 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.
Best Birth Control Pills For Pcos
Combination birth control pills stop the ovaries from releasing an egg, which prevents pregnancy. They also thicken the mucus of the cervix. If the ovaries were to release an egg, this thickened mucus could prevent pregnancy.
The same hormones that prevent ovulation can also keep male hormone levels low and raise female hormone levels. Combination pills for PCOS include:
Some pills, such as Loestrin, have lower estrogen levels. These low estrogen levels can reduce the severity of some side effects but may also be less effective against symptoms of PCOS.
Someone with PCOS should talk with a doctor about the right amount of estrogen based on their symptoms and other risk factors.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Birth Control Pills
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- signs of a stroke–sudden numbness or weakness , sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance
- signs of a blood clot–sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth in one or both legs
- heart attack symptoms–chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating
- liver problems–loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice
- increased blood pressure–severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
- a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches
- a breast lump or
- symptoms of depression–sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting
Lo Loestrin Fe Contraindications
-
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to norethindrone, ethinyl estradiol, or ferrous fumarate, or if you are pregnant. Do not use it if you have vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor, liver disease or liver cancer, jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, breast cancer, problems with blood clots, or certain heart problems or headaches.
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What If I Miss My Scheduled Period When Taking
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.
How To Use Lo Loestrin Fe
Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking this product and each time you get a refill. The leaflet contains very important information on when to take your pills and what to do if you miss a dose. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Pick a time of day that is easy for you to remember, and take your pill at the same time each day.
It is very important to continue taking this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. With certain brands of birth control pills, the amount of estrogen and progestin in each active tablet will vary at different times in the cycle. Follow the package instructions to find the first tablet, start with the first tablet in the pack, and take them in the correct order. Do not skip any doses. Pregnancy is more likely if you miss pills, start a new pack late, or take your pill at a different time of the day than usual.
If you have vomiting or diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours after taking your tablet, read the Patient Information Leaflet section titled “What to Do if You Miss Tablets.” Follow the instructions as if you had missed your dose because vomiting/diarrhea can stop the tablet from working.
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How Well Does Lo Loestrin Fe Work
Your chance of getting pregnant depends on how well you follow the directions for taking your birth control pills. The better you follow the directions, the less chance you have of getting pregnant.
Based on the results of one clinical study, about 2 to 4 out of 100 women may get pregnant during the first year they use Lo Loestrin Fe.
Women with a BMI above 35 kg/m2 were not studied in the clinical trial, so it is not known how well this medication protects against pregnancy in such women. If you are overweight, discuss with your healthcare provider whether Lo Loestrin Fe is the best choice for you.
Birth control pills are:
- Less effective than implants, injections, intrauterine devices and sterilization, which result in fewer than 1 pregnancy per 100 women in a year
- Slightly more effective than condoms and diaphragms
- More effective than using spermicide, withdrawal or having no sex during the most fertile days of the monthly cycle, which result in 10 to 20 pregnancies per 100 women in one year
- More effective than no birth control, which results in 85 or more pregnancies per 100 women in one year
Dosage: How Much Of Lo Loestrin Fe Should I Take
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
Your doctor may ask you to begin your dose on the first day of your menstrual period , on the fifth day , or on the first Sunday after your menstrual period starts . When you begin on a certain day it is important that you follow that schedule, even if you miss a dose. Do not change your schedule on your own. If the schedule that you use is not convenient, check with your doctor about changing it. For the Day 5 start and Sunday start, you need to use another form of birth control for the first 7 days.
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How Does Lo Loestrin Fe Work
The active ingredients in Lo Loestrin Fe are both hormones that prevent ovulation. Norethindrone acetate is a synthetic form of the natural female sex hormone progesterone. Ethinyl estradiol is a synthetic form of the natural female sex hormone estrogen.
Both of these compounds are prescribed individually for birth control treatment, and the combined effect may be more effective than either in isolation.
For the treatment to be maximally effective in reducing unplanned pregnancies, women should take Lo Loestrin Fe at the same time each day, so that there are no drops in circulating hormone levels. The clinical trial recommends this approach.
How Long Does It Take Loestrin To Work
The great news is that Leostrin can start working immediately as long as you start taking it at the beginning of your cycle . Loestrin may also start working right away if you take it within the first week of your period .
Its still best for you to use barrier method protection like condoms the first week you take birth control pills . Birth control pills dont prevent all pregnancies, but they are extremely effective. The better you are at taking birth control pills exactly as outlined in the instructions, the more effective they arethat means no forgetting the pill some days .
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Low Dose Birth Control
Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team. Updated on May 26, 2021
When people talk about the dose of birth control, they mean the amount of hormones or active ingredients it has. Back in the day, low dose birth control had a higher amount of hormones . That said, if youre asking specifically for low-dose birth control, you should know that most pills today are considered low-dose.
Being that there are so many birth control options to choose from, its normal to feel confused or even overwhelmed. But have no fear. The following article will explore the pros and cons of low dose birth control.
Lo Loestrin Fe Review: The Worst Birth Control Option
Taylor Graber MDTaylor Graber is a Medical Doctor and a practicing anaesthesiologist. He’s also an entrepreneur who runs a health and wellness startup. See full bio., Co-author, Calloway CookCalloway Cook is the President of Illuminate Labs and has reviewed over 1,000 clinical trials. See full bio., Co-author|DJ Mazzoni MS, RDDJ Mazzoni is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist . He received his Master’s of Science in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. See full bio., Medical Reviewer|Mar 09, 2022
Taylor Graber MDTaylor Graber is a Medical Doctor and a practicing anaesthesiologist. He’s also an entrepreneur who runs a health and wellness startup. See full bio., Co-authorCalloway CookCalloway Cook is the President of Illuminate Labs and has reviewed over 1,000 clinical trials. See full bio., Co-author
DJ Mazzoni MS, RDDJ Mazzoni is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist . He received his Master’s of Science in Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services. See full bio., Medical ReviewerMar 09, 2022
We review published medical research in respected scientific journals to arrive at our conclusions about a product or health topic. This ensures the highest standard of scientific accuracy.
Illuminate Labs doesn’t accept compensation for reviews. We choose products and topics to review based on consumer interest, and recommend products based on formulation only.
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Increase In Plasma Levels Of Ethinyl Estradiol Associated With Co
Co-administration of atorvastatin and certain COCs containing ethinyl estradiol increase AUC values for ethinyl estradiol by approximately 20 percent. Ascorbic acid and acetaminophen may increase plasma ethinyl estradiol levels, possibly by inhibition of conjugation. CYP3A4 inhibitors such as itraconazole or ketoconazole may increase plasma hormone levels.
How Does Lo Loestrin Work To Prevent Pregnancy
Hormonal birth control pills give your body a specific, consistent amount of estrogen and progesterone every day. With this consistent amount of both hormones, there is no spike in estrogen and no egg is released. With no egg, pregnancy is not possible.
In addition, because the egg was not release there is no spike in progesterone, so the uterus does not get prepared for pregnancy. This is why periods are often shorter and less painful while on birth control, since there is less to get rid of during the period.
For a 28-day birth control pack, week 4 contains anywhere from 2-7 pills with no hormones, to allow your body to have a withdrawal bleed that mimics a typical period. During this part of your cycle you will not be able to get pregnant.
- 24 blue, round tablets that contain 10 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 1 mg of norethindrone acetate .
- 2 white, hexagonal tablets that contain just 10mcg ethinyl estradiol .
- 2 brown, round tablets containing 75 mg ferrous fumarate . These pills are non-hormonal and are not involved in preventing pregnancy.
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Switching From Another Hormonal Method Of Contraception
If the patient is switching from a combination hormonal method such as:
Another pill Vaginal ring Patch
- Instruct her to take the first blue tablet on the day she would have taken her next COC pill. She should not continue taking the tablets from her previous birth control pack, and should not skip any days between packs. If she does not have a withdrawal bleed, rule out pregnancy before starting Lo loestrin Fe.
- If she previously used a vaginal ring or transdermal patch, she should start using Lo loestrin Fe on the day she would have resumed the previous product.
If the patient is switching from a progestin-only method such as a:
Progestin-only pill Intrauterine system Injection
- Instruct her to take the first blue tablet on the day she would have taken her next progestin-only pill, or had her next injection or on the day of removal of her implant.
- If switching from an IUD, depending on the timing of removal, back-up contraception may be needed.
