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/.
Dear Krys,
The nausea may be a temporary side effect you are experiencing. I would advise you to stay on the pill for at least one more month to see if it does subside. If it does then you are fine. Which antibiotic are you on? Hopefully it does not interfere with your birth control pill.
Comment by Janine — April 24, 2013 @ 4:57 am
Hi There,
I was taking the generic brand Alysena 28 and in replace of the recalled lot I had they gave me Alesse 21. Is there a difference between the hormone dosage in them? I have been up and down since i started this pack and just wondering if this was the reason.
Comment by Lauren — April 26, 2013 @ 7:56 am
Dear Lauren,
When transitioning birth control pills, you will notice some small changes. This should be temporary for the first 3 months of being on the new pill.
Comment by Janine — May 2, 2013 @ 3:28 pm
Hi there,
I’ve been on alesse for 4 months, today is the 6th day since my last hormone pill. The last pill was taken on Sunday, and I usually get my period by Wednesday. It’s now Saturday and I’ve had some milder versions of my usual period symptoms (slight cramping, bloating/gas) but only one sticky brown spot of discharge on Friday (sorry for the detail). I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend around two-three times in the last month, and I’m starting to panic that I might be pregnant… I’ve never been this later before. I did take a Plan B pill right before my last period, could this have any affect?
Comment by Erika — May 11, 2013 @ 8:34 pm
I just finished my fifth pack of alesse 21, Im on my break and suppose to start my new pack tomorrow, but my period is late. i took my pill on time everyday this month, but last month i missed a couple of days. do i still start my new pack even if i never got my period.
Comment by jessica — May 12, 2013 @ 4:20 pm
I had one week early period it start on May 8 it should been start on May 15. Question is I have two pink pill then white on May 15 now thing is if period stop either tomorrow may 13 or Tuesday may 14 should I start new pack next day May 15 or keep on finished this pack I am on.
Comment by Peggy — May 12, 2013 @ 7:43 pm
Dear Peggy,
Stay on the pack and finish it completely before you move on to your next pack.
Comment by Janine — May 13, 2013 @ 5:14 pm
Dear Jessica,
Please start your next pack as planned. Do not readjust the pack due to missed pills or late periods.
Comment by Janine — May 13, 2013 @ 5:15 pm
Dear Erika,
Only take Plan B within 72 hours of having sex, otherwise it is not effective. If you did take Plan B within 72 hours of having sex, then the brown discharge may be your period. Just in case take a home pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant. If it is positive, make an appointment with your doctor to get a more accurate pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.
Comment by Janine — May 13, 2013 @ 5:19 pm
The 7 days white pills is safe sex? can it be pregnant on white pills?
Comment by Peggy — May 14, 2013 @ 1:51 pm
Which is no period on white pill to have safe sex?
Comment by Peggy — May 14, 2013 @ 1:52 pm
Dear Peggy,
When you are on the white pills, you should be having your period. If you are taking the pills daily and do not miss a dose, it is a safe period to have sex.
Comment by Janine — May 15, 2013 @ 6:29 pm
I was on allesse for several months, but the breakthrough bleeding was too much so I stopped taking the pill. It has been 5 weeks and I still have not gotten my period. Is this normal? I am still sexually active, but we use condoms. Might I be pregnant?
Comment by Bahar — May 20, 2013 @ 4:32 pm
Dear Bahar,
It usually takes up to 3 months for your body to resume back to it’s rhythm after you stopped taking the birth control pill. If you are worried, take a pregnancy test to confirm you are not pregnant.
Comment by Janine — May 21, 2013 @ 8:14 am
Hi, I was supposed to get my period on May 16 2013. Now it’s the 26, I finished my pills on Saturday May 12. Throughout the week after I stopped my pills, I spotted everyday except Friday the 17. I have never missed a pill and my boyfriend & I don’t use condoms, but we use the pullout method even though I take BC daily. My period has never been this late before and I am very worried. My stomach has been cramping like my period is about to come, but it never does. I’m only 16, please help me!!!
Comment by Ally — May 26, 2013 @ 8:12 am
Dear Ally,
I would advise you to first take a pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant. If it is negative then the spotting is probably your period. If the test is positive, check in with your doctor to get a more accurate pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.
Comment by Janine — May 27, 2013 @ 8:33 am
If I am on menopause am I still taking pill while have sex? I am 48 yrs old.
Comment by Peggy — May 28, 2013 @ 5:59 am
I’ve been on alesse for two months I have been taking my pills around 10pm everyday and I have spotting the week before. I had unprotected sex shoud I be concerned about pregnancy if the pill isn’t strong enough. My breasts hurt and are swollen.
Comment by Tina — May 29, 2013 @ 3:54 pm
Dear Tina,
The spotting and the swelling can be from your body adjusting to the pill. Continue taking the pill until the 4th pack. IF these symptoms continue, please see your doctor and let him/her know about the spotting and swelling.
Comment by Janine — May 31, 2013 @ 11:19 am
Dear Peggy,
This is a question you should ask your doctor.
Comment by Janine — May 31, 2013 @ 11:25 am
Hi,
I’ve been on Alesse for 2 months now and when I went to get a full prescription the pharmacist gave me Alysena28. Is this normal? Will I still be protected?
Comment by Drew — June 3, 2013 @ 6:43 pm
Dear Drew,
The pharmacist could have given you Alysena28 because they don’t have Alesse. I’m sure they gave you a reason. Alysena28 is a birth control and you will still be protected if you go on it instead of Alesse. Just start the pack as you normally would when you are done with Alesse.
Comment by Janine — June 5, 2013 @ 3:57 pm
Hi so I have been on alesse before for many years I just had a baby in April and started taking the pill as dr told me on the first Sunday after my period started the last pack of active pills I had some significant spotting then got my full blown period I started my new set of pills on the Sunday and usually take my pill at 6pm i forgot to take my Monday pill till Tuesday morning at 8am had unprotected sex on the Sunday should I be worried
Comment by Li — July 30, 2013 @ 12:30 pm
Dear Li,
If you took your Monday missed pill on Tuesday, you should be protected.
Comment by Janine — August 20, 2013 @ 4:22 pm
I’ve been on alesse (the 7 day reminder one) for about three months.ive been taking the pill every day around 8 to 10 and every month I’ve been getting brown and red discharge and it happens about three to four days before my the white pills. And after I’m sexually active it i get it a lot. Should I switch brands? Or keep going ? Thanks
Comment by sydney — August 24, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
Dear Syndey,
I would advise you to talk to your doctor because you and your doctor should decide together whether or not you should switch to a higher dose birth control pill.
Comment by Janine — August 26, 2013 @ 9:55 am
Hi,
I have been on Alesse since October 2013 (it is now late January 2014). Before then I was on Yaz for a few years. It is a week before my period is expected but I’m experiencing some light brown spotting and minor cramps as if I were having a light period. My doctor told me that I should expect this to happen when I first begin Alesse, but it’s since been over three months and I’m on my fourth pack of pills.
I am sexually active and I worry that I might be pregnant. The only possible explanation I could have about my spotting is that I may have missed a day when travelling across numerous time-zones. Just in the past month I flew from Canada to New Zealand and I may have missed some hours in there, which could have off-set my bodily schedule. Do you think this could be the reason why I’m spotting? Or do you think my body is still new to the pill, even though it’s been more than three months? Thanks.
Comment by Erin — January 26, 2014 @ 5:44 pm
I have been on Alesse since Sunday at 12:00 am. I have been very consistent with my pills. So, I was on birthday control for a little over 7 days. On Sunday at 9pm, my boyfriend finished in me. – Should I be concerned?
Comment by Kaitlyn — January 27, 2014 @ 11:24 am
Hi Kaitlyn,
With taking birth control for 1 week consistently, you will most likely be ok.
Comment by pdhillon — January 27, 2014 @ 5:02 pm
Hi Erin,
Switching birth control pills can result in spotting like your doctor mentioned. When your body undergoes stress, such as travelling a long distance, that can also be a trigger for spotting. If you have been taking your birth control consistently as instructed and have had a period over the course of the three months, you are most likely fine. However, if you feel that you are pregnant, it is best to take a pregnancy test to be on the safe side. If it tests negative you are not pregnant. If it tests positive, you should visit your doctor.
Comment by pdhillon — February 6, 2014 @ 4:42 pm