(Family Features) When looking at options for pregnancy prevention, your healthcare provider will likely share details about several options, along with information about which options might be appropriate for you. More likely than not, oral contraceptives – a birth control method that has been available since the early 1960s – will be discussed.
Also known as birth control pills or “The Pill,” oral contraceptives are an effective option for pregnancy prevention when taken as directed. Much like anything else, however, it can take some time to get used to incorporating them into your daily routine. Habits aren’t formed overnight, and while a clinician will advise on when and how to take it, it’s up to the person prescribed to stay on track.
“While certainly not foolproof, I typically find that my patients quickly adjust to adding birth control into their daily routines by taking a few simple steps,” says OB/GYN Dr. Lakeisha Richardson, a paid consultant of Allergan, the maker of Lo Loestrin Fe (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol tablets, ethinyl estradiol tablets and ferrous fumarate tablets). Please see Important Risk Information, including Boxed Warning for Lo Loestrin Fe below.
Dr. Richardson typically shares these tips with patients:
- Keep it within arm’s reach: Losing a pill pack deep in the bottom of a tote bag is a surefire way to miss a day. Opting to keep it somewhere more accessible like a nightstand, wallet, or a cosmetic case may be a better location to keep it top of mind.
- Ring the alarm: One option that many women use is setting a cellphone alarm for a daily reminder for when to take your pill.
- Don’t forget to factor in time changes: Whether you’re traveling to a different time zone or setting the clocks back for daylight saving time, certain transitions can affect the time you’re used to taking your pill. Be sure to always factor in any time differences to make sure you are still taking your pill at the same time every day. If you have any questions about when to take your pill, ask your healthcare provider.
- Be informed: When speaking to a doctor, no question is a silly question. Write down anything you’re not sure about in a notebook, such as how and when to take your birth control pill, and bring it with you to the doctor’s office to get the clarity you need. For any follow up questions, don’t be afraid to give your healthcare provider a call.
For more information about Lo Loestrin Fe, one birth control option, visit Loloestrin.com, and speak to your healthcare provider to determine the method that is appropriate for you.
What is Lo Loestrin Fe?
Lo Loestrin Fe is a prescription birth control pill used for the prevention of pregnancy. If you are moderately obese, discuss with your healthcare provider whether Lo Loestrin Fe is appropriate for you.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION
Who should not take Lo Loestrin Fe?
Do not use Lo Loestrin Fe if you have or have had blood clots, history of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure that medicine cannot control, breast cancer or any cancer that is sensitive to female hormones, liver disease or liver tumors, unexplained bleeding from the vagina, if you are or may be pregnant, or if you take Hepatitis C drugs containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir, as this may increase levels of liver enzymes in the blood.
What else should I know about taking Lo Loestrin Fe?
Treatment with Lo Loestrin Fe should be stopped if you have a blood clot, and at least 4 weeks before and through 2 weeks after major surgery. You should not take Lo Loestrin Fe any earlier than 4 weeks after having a baby, or if you are breastfeeding. If you experience yellowing of the skin or eyes due to problems with your liver, you should stop taking Lo Loestrin Fe. If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic, your doctor should monitor you while using Lo Loestrin Fe. Your doctor should evaluate you if you have any significant change in headaches or irregular menstrual bleeding.
What are the most serious risks of taking Lo Loestrin Fe?
Lo Loestrin Fe increases the risk of serious conditions including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. These can be life-threatening or lead to permanent disability.
What are the possible side effects of Lo Loestrin Fe?
The most common side effects reported by women taking Lo Loestrin Fe in a study were nausea/vomiting, headache, spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods, painful menstruation, weight change, breast tenderness, acne, abdominal pain, anxiety, and depression.
Birth control pills do not protect you against any sexually transmitted disease, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Please see the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Patient Information, which are also available at loloestrin.com.
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