Loestrin 24 Fe birth control pill.
Loestrin 24 Fe is a highly effective birth control pill with the lowest level of estrogen (20 mcg per pill) allowed. Birth control pills that contain less than 50 mcg of estrogen are considered "low" dose. Studies have found that lower dose birth control pills have been proven safer than higher dose birth control pills with fewer, less severe side effects. With Loestrin 24 Fe, your period starts later and bleeding is lighter, lasting on average, less than 3 days.
When taken properly, Loestrin 24 Fe is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Like all birth control pills, Loestrin 24 Fe prevents pregnancy by providing hormones (estrogen and progestin) that suppress ovulation and other related changes your body goes through in preparation for a pregnancy.
How does Loestrin 24 Fe work?
Loestrin 24 Fe provides 3 extra days of the active white pills, for a total of 24 instead of the usual 21. This gives you 3 more days of hormones, so your period starts later, is shorter, and bleeding is lighter. The remaining 4 brown "reminder" pills are iron supplements. They are included to get you into the routine of taking a Loestrin 24 Fe pill every day.
Are shorter periods ok?
Yes, for the majority of women, a shorter period is simply the result of the type of birth control pill they choose. All birth control pills prevent the production of a mature egg so there is less build-up of material for menstrual discharge than when an egg matures and is released.
The 3 additional days of hormones you take results in even less build-up of this material than with 21-day birth control pills. In other words, there is less monthly build-up so there is less menstrual flow. This results in a short period lasting, on average, less than 3 days, with less bleeding, too.
What are the most common side effects?
Just like other birth control pills, most of Loestrin 24 Fe side effects are not serious, usually subsiding or decreasing within the first 3 months of use. Side effects may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Weight gain
- Breast tenderness
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses **
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially if you're over 35. Women who use birth control pills should not smoke. Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have or have had blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant. Loestrin 24 Fe does not protect against HIV or 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/.
**Correction made 01/10/08: wearing contact lenses changed to difficulty wearing contact lenses**
Stumble It!
posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 2:26 PM
4 comments |
Post Your Comment |
Friday, October 13, 2006
Breast cancer and birth control pills.
The risk of a woman developing breast cancer depends on many factors, several of which are related to her natural hormones. Hormonal risk factors include conditions that allow high levels of estrogen to persist for long periods of time, such as first menstruation at an young age (before 12), menopause at a late age (after 55), having children after 30, and not having children at all.
Seeing that many of the risk factors are related to natural hormones, and because birth control pills work by manipulating these hormones, there has been concern about what the possible effects birth control pills may have on breast cancer risk, especially if women take them for many years.
Over the last 15 years, several studies examining the use of birth control pills as a risk factor for breast cancer have produced inconsistent results. Although most studies found no overall increased risk of breast cancer associated with the use of birth control pills, in June 1995 investigators at the National Cancer Institute reported an increased risk of developing breast cancer among women under the age of 35 who had been taking the pill for at least 6 months, compared against those who had never used them. There was a slightly lower, but still elevated risk among women ages 35 to 44. Additionally, their studies showed a higher risk among long-term birth control pill users, especially those who had started to use the pill before age 18.
A later report, which included the 1995 study, found that although there was a slightly elevated risk of developing breast cancer in birth control pill users, the risk of developing breast cancer returned to a normal level 10 years or more after discontinuation of birth control pills. Risk reduction after 10 years or more of being off birth control pills was consistent regardless of family history of breast cancer, reproductive history, where the woman lived, ethnic background, dose and type of hormone, and length of use. However, for reasons unknown, there was still a continued elevated risk among women who had started using birth control pills before age 18.
However all is not lost. One encouraging point of the study is that the minimally elevated risk may not be due to the birth control itself. The risk may result from estrogen's potential to promote growth of breast cancer cells already present, rather than its potential to create new malignant changes.
Furthermore, the slightly elevated risk of developing breast cancer that was seen in this study is not consistent with the usual process of carcinogenesis. It is more typical for cancer risk to peak decades after exposure, not immediately afterward. Cancer usually is more likely to occur with increased duration and/or degree of exposure to a carcinogen. In this analytical study, neither hormonal concentration nor duration of use affected the outcomes.
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/.
Stumble It!
posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 9:43 AM
3 comments |
Post Your Comment |
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Plan B emergency contraception.
What is Plan B?
Pregnancy can be prevented after intercourse by taking Plan B emergency contraceptive pills. It works by giving the body a short, high, burst of synthetic hormones. This disrupts the hormone patterns needed for pregnancy. Plan B disturbs the ovaries and the development of the uterine lining, making pregnancy less likely to occur. It is most effective within the first 24 hours after intercourse. Plan B reduces the risk of pregnancy by 89% but does not protect against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases.
How do I take Plan B?
Plan B has two progesterone pills. The first dose should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse, preferably with a meal. The second dose is usually taken 12 hours later.
If you vomit within a half hour of taking Plan B, call your healthcare specialist. Vomiting can decrease the effectiveness. To decrease nausea and vomiting take an anti-vomiting medication 30 minutes before taking the first dose.
Who should not use Plan B emergency contraception?
Due to the risk of serious health problems, women with the following conditions may not be able to use Plan B:
- Established pregnancy
- Past heart attack or stroke
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Breast or genital cancers
- Liver cancer
Plan B will not harm an established pregnancy. It acts on the uterus and cannot prevent an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg attaches and grows outside the uterus. This can be very dangerous and requires immediate medical attention.
What are the side effects?
While side effects are rare for Plan B you may experience the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Dizziness
- Fluid retention
- Irregular bleeding
Women who experience any of the following symptoms while taking Plan B should call their doctor immediately:
- Abdominal pains (severe)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Headaches (severe)
- Eye problems, such as blurred vision
- Severe leg or arm pain or numbness
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Plan B?
Advantages- Can be used after intercourse.
- Can get pills ahead of time so you have them when you need them.
- Easy to use.
- Does not affect future fertility.
- Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS.
- Most effective when taken as soon as possible after unprotected vaginal intercourse.
- Side effects.
- Might not be readily available.
- Not for routine use.
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/.
Stumble It!
posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 3:08 PM
0 comments |
Post Your Comment |
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
LINESSA
One of the first reasons why women stop taking their birth control pills is breakthrough bleeding, a common and inconvenient result of traditional oral contraceptives. The good news is that women now have access to Linessa, a low-dose birth control pill that is 99% effective and offers excellent cycle control.
"Irregular or breakthrough bleeding can cause women to feel unsure about the effectiveness of the Pill and its unexpected timing can often be inconvenient," says Dr. Nancy Durand, gynecologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. "Many physicians deem breakthrough bleeding a normal side effect of hormonal contraception and counsel patients to wait up to six months before discussing other options. This is often unacceptable to patients," she adds.
Breakthrough bleeding refers to the often unexpected, and inconvenient, bleeding between a woman's period. It commonly occurs within the first three to six months of starting a new birth control pill.
Low-dose birth control pills (meaning the product contains a small amount of estrogen), like Linessa, offer a smaller chance of side effects. But at the same time low-dose contraception can also mean a higher chance of breakthrough bleeding. However, it seems that Linessa - which has a low estrogen dose and still limits breakthrough bleeding - offers women the best of both worlds.
In a clinical trial, only 11% or less of Linessa users reported breakthrough bleeding over six months. Dr. Durand says according to the SOGC contraceptive guidelines 2004, "this is significantly less when compared to other low-dose birth control pills, where unexpected bleeding may range from 10-30%." Also important, less than 1% of the women stopped using Linessa due to breakthrough bleeding.
"Women should choose a contraceptive that best suits their lifestyle and addresses their concerns about side effects. Further, cycle control should be an important consideration when choosing an OC and Linessa provides women with a low-dose contraceptive option that is effective, results in less breakthrough bleeding, and minimal weight changes," adds Dr. Durand.
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 pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Stumble It!
posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 10:11 AM
0 comments |
Post Your Comment |
