Alesse is a combination birth control pill used for the prevention of pregnancy. The estrogen and progestin combo prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and causes changes in the mucus of the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to penetrate and for an egg to implant.
Alesse may also be taken to treat acne in women 14 years of age and older or to regulate the menstrual cycle.
How is Alesse taken?
You have two options, a 21 day pack or a 28 day pack. For the 21 pack you take 1 tablet daily for 21 days, then take no pills for 7 days, and then follow with the next pack. With the 28 day pack you take 1 tablet daily for 21 days, then take 1 “reminder” pill daily for 7 days, and then begin the next pack.
“Day 1″ is known as the first day of your period. Your physician may have you start your birth control pills on the first Sunday after your period starts or on Day 1 or Day 5 of your period. You should take the pill approximately the same time every day, preferably after the evening meal or at bedtime. Use of a second method of birth control (e.g., latex condoms) for the first seven days of the first cycle of pills is recommended. You may experience spotting or light bleeding or nausea during the first three months taking the pill. If you do feel sick, do not stop taking the pill. The problem usually goes away. If it does not go away, check with your physician or clinic.
If you experience vomiting or diarrhea, or if you take certain medications (such as antibiotics), your pills may not work as well. If you start a new medication while taking birth control pills, check with your physician or pharmacist to make sure that it will not reduce the effectiveness of the pills. Use a back-up method of birth control, such as latex condoms, until you are sure.
You must take Alesse exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss pills at any time, your risk of becoming pregnant increases. If you miss one pill, take it as soon as you remember, and take the next pill at the usual time. This means that you might take two pills in one day.
If you miss two pills in a row during the first two weeks of your cycle, take two pills on the day you remember and two pills the next day. Then take one pill a day until you finish the pack. Use a second method of birth control if you have sex in the seven days after you miss the pills.
Who should not use Alesse birth control?
The pill does not suit all women. If any of the following apply to you, you may not be able to use hormonal methods of birth control.
- You are, or suspect that you are pregnant
- Are breastfeeding and / or are less than 6 weeks postpartum
- Are over the age of 35
- Smoke
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have active liver disease or a history of liver tumors
- Have a history of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure or some other condition that puts you at risk of a heart attack
- Have diabetes
- Have breast cancer, history of breast cancer or an abnormal growth in the breast
- Have a history of blood clotting problems
- Have cancer or history of cancer of the reproductive organs
- Have migraines or focal neurologic symptoms
What are the side effects?
Common side effects for combination contraceptives can be:
- Weight gain
- Nausea and vomiting (felt for the first few cycles)
- Dizziness
- Increase or decrease in acne
- Headaches
- High blood pressure
- Loss of libido
- Depression
- Vaginal infections
Less common serious health risks can be:
- Blood clots in legs, lungs, heart or brain
- Stroke
- Heart attacks
- Possibly cervical cancer
If side effects persist or worsen while using Alesse contact your physician immediately. Alesse will not protect you from HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
I am still on the pill (not the sugar ones) how come I got my period early? I thought I was not suppose to get my period till I was on the sugar pills
Comment by LAURA — October 15, 2011 @ 1:33 pm
Dear Laura,
Breakthrough bleeding/spotting can occur for many reasons. 1) If you just started on the pill, breakthrough bleeding or spotting can occur during the first 3 months of the pill because your body is adjusting to the pill. 2) When taking other medications, ie. antibiotics, the medication prescribed may interact with the pill decreasing the effectiveness of the pill. In this case, you will get your period. 3) If any pills were missed or not taken at the same time every day, the pill will be less effective and breakthrough bleeding/spotting will occur. If none of the above is the case for you, I would advise you to make an appointment with your doctor and let him/her know about the unexpected bleeding.
Comment by Janine — October 17, 2011 @ 12:42 pm
hey if i take the pill anytime lets say between 7pm-10pm everyday will it still be effective,,,or is it i have to take it same exact time?
Comment by Kamy — October 29, 2011 @ 10:47 pm
Dear Kamy,
The pill will continue to be effective as long as you take it within a one hour window. If you took your pill at 8pm it can be taken anytime between 7pm and 9pm.
Comment by Janine — October 31, 2011 @ 11:38 am
Hey, im wondering how long does the alesse pill start working?
Comment by Roxanne — November 30, 2011 @ 12:17 pm
Dear Roxanne,
If you started taking Alesse on the first day or the Sunday of your period, it should start working right away. But if you started the pill in any other way while you are not having your period, then it is recommended you wait until you finish the first pack of pills before you have sex. It is also very important that you do not miss any pills during the first pack because the pill will lose effectiveness every time you miss a pill.
Comment by Janine — December 1, 2011 @ 12:11 pm
what if you took the pill late but still took it, but b4 you took it you had sex
Comment by faith — December 4, 2011 @ 4:06 pm
Dear Faith,
As long as you took it, you should be fine. Your risk for pregnancy decreases if you take it around the same time every day. If you want to stay protected, it is best you take the pill every day around the same time, every time.
Comment by Janine — December 5, 2011 @ 9:57 am
I Missed starting my new pack of pills by 2 days (I should have started on Sunday but begin on Tuesday) and had unprotected sex during that time (Monday). Should I be worried? I just came off the sugar pills and had a light period. EEEKKKK!
Comment by Jenn — December 21, 2011 @ 8:06 am
Dear Jenn,
You can take Plan B as well as use back up contraception for the next week. I would recommend you see your doctor today to get Plan B.
Comment by Janine — December 21, 2011 @ 9:59 am
From what I have read its to late for the plan B pill. Is it likey to I ovulated that early in my cycle?
Comment by Jenn — December 21, 2011 @ 12:49 pm
Dear Jenn,
I’m not sure but I can’t say it has never happened before. You can wait until you get your next period to find out if you are pregnant. If you don’t get your period then you should take a pregnancy test. If you do get your period, you are not pregnant.
Comment by Janine — December 21, 2011 @ 5:38 pm
This is my first time using the pill and I’m on the 28 day pack, do I start with sugur pills? If so when do I stop taking the sugar pills
Comment by Sasha — December 27, 2011 @ 10:30 am
Dear Sasha,
When your doctor prescribed you the pill, did he/she not explain to you how to take the pills or any information on the pill including regular side effects, serious side effects, what to do when you miss a pill, etc? If you have not been informed of this information I would highly recommend you talk to your doctor first and have him/her explain to you all the information you need to know before you start the pill.
Comment by Janine — January 4, 2012 @ 3:50 pm
what if you think you are pregnant is it still safe to take the pill untill you find out for sure that you are?
Comment by Faithy — January 29, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
Dear Faithy,
If you are already on the pill, continue the pack until you are ready to take a pregnancy test. The earliest detection of pregnancy can be detected with first response. First response detects pregnancy 6 days before your missed period.
If you are not on the pill, I would advise you to go see your doctor to get a pregnancy test first. Once confirmed you are not pregnant, then you can start your pills.
Comment by Janine — January 30, 2012 @ 9:44 am
I have been on the pill for 3 months. I have had my period every 2 weeks since I started. I was just to see my Dr. last week; told him about this and he changed my prescription to a new pill. He also told me I was already spotting for my next period. Just before I left I asked that; because my body didn’t work well with this pill, if there is any chance of pregnancy. He said “No.” looked at me for a min and then “But if you really need peace of mind take a test.”
Am I just being paranoid? I haven’t missed periods, as I have been getting them every two weeks. I have just been reading so much about birth control side effects and they always seem to come with information on signs of pregnancy.
I missed a pill in my first pack before I went to bed one night (about 2.5 months ago) and took it the next morning. I didn’t want to run into this again so I started taking it at 3pm – this time works well for me and I’ve been consistent with it. Like I said, I have been getting my period every 2 weeks from the start..
Am I ok to start my new pill?
Comment by Sky — January 31, 2012 @ 9:32 am
Dear Sky,
Yes you are okay to start your new pill. This new pill should be able to regulate your period a lot better so that you won’t have spotting every two weeks.
Comment by Janine — January 31, 2012 @ 11:10 am