Seasonale is designed to extend the time between your periods so you get them once every 3 months instead of every month. It has a 91-day treatment cycle, resulting in 4 menstrual periods per year. You take 1 active pill every day for 3 months (84 days), followed by 1 week (7 days) of inactive pills.
During your first year on Seasonale bleeding or spotting between periods is more likely to occur than with traditional birth control pills. The total days of bleeding are similar to a traditional birth control pill. These side effects are common during early cycles and can happen as your body is adjusting to hormones. They should decrease over time.
How do I take Seasonale?
You should take the first pink active pill on the Sunday after your period begins, even if you still have your period. If your period begins on Sunday, start your pack that same day. For the first 7 days after you start Seasonale use another type of birth control (like a condom or spermicide) as a back-up to prevent pregnancy.
Take one birth control pill every day at the same time, no more than 24 hours after the last dose. Try to take Seasonale at a time that you will remember – just before bed, with a meal, or first thing in the morning. Taking the pill at night may help to reduce nausea or headache, which may be side effects.
Your period should occur during the 7 days you are taking the white pills (these are “reminder” pills and do not contain hormones). If you don’t get your period, have a pregnancy test before beginning a new package of pills.
After taking the last white pill from a pack, start a new pack the very next day. Do not skip any days.
Does Seasonale have any side effects?
The side effects of Seasonale are the same as experienced with regular birth control pills and should decrease over time. They may include:
- bleeding between periods
- nausea
- breast tenderness
- weight gain
- dizziness
- increase or decrease in acne
- headaches
- high blood pressure
Serious, but less common, health risks can be:
- blood clots in legs, lungs, heart or brain
- stroke
- heart attacks
- possibly cervical cancer
Birth Control Buzz 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 on types of birth control 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 have been on a generic version of Seasonale. This is my second pack that I finish. During the 1st and also 2nd pack while taking the white pills I did not get my period. My doctor had to give me another pill to make me bleed the 1st time around. I’m still waiting for the doctor to call me back on the 2nd time around.
Comment by Anonymous — August 12, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
I had been on Seasonale for 6 months, no problems really, just some light spotting once in a while. My insurance wouldn’t cover it and there wasn’t a generic. This year I tried Seasonique, and barely any spotting, but I have gained weight. Up to 15 pounds since starting. Too much for me to continue so I will just keep taking regular BC but i will take the regular pills, not the inert ones, just to keep from having my period. My doctor said that it would be fine. I feel better and lost some pounds. I may stop in a few weeks to have a period, but havn’t had one for over 7 months straight.
Comment by Anonymous — August 29, 2007 @ 12:35 am
I have been on seasonale for about 18mo. and LOVE IT! I don’t have to deal with; pimples, sadness,and all those others PMS symptoms anymore. I hope I never have to switch BC pills. However I keep up with current events on how safe the pill is and so far so good.
Comment by Anonymous — December 12, 2007 @ 9:38 am
I have tried several different types of BC. I have tried the Depo Shot, Lupron etc… While on yasmin, loestrin and several other pills thatI was switch to, I begin experiencing Yeast Infections and Bacteria Infections for about a year. A new GYN switched me to Seasonique and the infections stopped. Lately I have been experiencing vaginal bleeding. The first three months I didnt have a cycle and now I cant seem to get rid of it. I asked my GYN to switch my pills. So now I am going to start taking Levora.
Comment by Anonymous — February 11, 2009 @ 12:06 pm
It was certainly interesting for me to read this post. Thanx for it. I like such topics and everything that is connected to them. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.
Comment by Anonymous — November 18, 2009 @ 2:11 am
I have been taking it for about 12 months now. For some reason my periods don’t really come anymore. If they do its after I’ve taken 4-5 white pills. It makes me super scared because I keep thinking I’m pregnant. Also, when I started taking it I gained 25 lbs. 🙁
Comment by kayla — February 6, 2013 @ 3:41 pm