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| Q |
how short will my period be with Loestrin 24 Fe? |
| A |
Everyone's cycle is different, but on average, women taking Loestrin 24 Fe had a period that lasted less than 3 days.* |
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| Q |
how long is the average period? |
| A |
In a national survey, 61% of women 18 - 34 reported having a period lasting 5 days or more.2
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| Q |
how does Loestrin 24 Fe shorten my period? |
| A |
With Loestrin 24 Fe, you take 24 “active” pills with hormones, instead of the typical 21 days of active pills. The 3 additional days of hormones result in less build-up of menstrual material than with 21-day birth control pills. This results in a short period lasting, on average, less than 3 days, with less bleeding, too. |
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| Q |
are shorter periods ok? |
| A |
Yes, for the majority of women, a shorter period is simply the result of the type of oral birth control they choose. All oral contraceptives 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.
With Loestrin 24 Fe, you take 24 "active" pills with a low dose of hormones, instead of the typical 21. The 3 additional days of hormones result 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. |
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| Q |
will I get my period on the weekend? |
| A |
It depends on which day you start your pill pack of Loestrin 24 Fe. If having your period fall on a weekend is a concern, ask your healthcare provider for advice on the best day to start in order to avoid this possibility.
For more information click here. |
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| Q |
how does Loestrin 24 Fe work?
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| A |
Most birth control pills contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. Loestrin 24 Fe contains the estrogen, ethinyl estradiol and the progestin, norethindrone acetate.
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.
Loestrin 24 Fe uses the lowest dose of estrogen (20 mcg per pill) currently approved by the FDA for effective birth control.
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Q |
is Loestrin 24 Fe effective? |
A | Loestrin 24 Fe is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if taken properly.
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| Q |
how do I switch to Loestrin 24 Fe if I’m already on another birth control pill?
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| A |
If you are currently on the Pill, first call your healthcare provider to see if Loestrin 24 Fe is right for you. She or he may want to see you before changing your prescription. If your healthcare provider thinks that Loestrin 24 Fe is right for you, the prescription can be called in that day and you can get effective birth control and a short period that lasts, on average, less than 3 days.
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Q |
when can I start using Loestrin 24 Fe? |
| A |
You have a choice of which day to start taking your first pack of Loestrin 24 Fe. Talk with your healthcare provider to decide which day works best for you:
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| Q |
should I take Loestrin 24 Fe at a specific time? |
| A |
It’s important to take 1 pill at the same time every day. By doing so, you ensure a steady level of hormones to help prevent pregnancy. Make Loestrin 24 Fe part of your daily routine. For example, if you take your pill each night after dinner, or in the morning before brushing your teeth, it will keep you in the habit of taking the Pill every day. By taking your pill at or around the same time each day you can also help prevent breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods. Missing pills increases the risk of pregnancy. |
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| Q |
what should I do if I miss pills? |
| A |
There are several answers to this question. Click the link below to read more about it:
If you are still not sure what to do about the pills you have missed, use a back-up method of birth control, such as condoms or spermicide anytime you have sex. Keep taking 1 white pill each day until you can contact your healthcare provider. |
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| Q |
what are the most common side effects? |
| A |
Most side effects of Loestrin 24 Fe are not serious. The most common are nausea, vomiting, bleeding, or spotting between menstrual periods; weight gain; breast tenderness; and difficulty wearing contact lenses. These side effects, especially nausea and vomiting, may decrease or subside within the first 3 months of use.
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| * | In a clinical trial, on average, women taking Loestrin 24 Fe had a period that lasted less than 3 days by cycle 6. |
| 2 |
Harris Interactive® conducted an online survey, commissioned by Warner Chilcott, from March 9th-13th and March 15th-17th of 2006 among a nationwide sample of 1342 women aged 18-49. The data were weighted to be representative of the total US adult population on the basis of region, age within gender, education, household income, race/ethnicity, and propensity of the respondent to be online. In theory, for probability samples of this size, the 95% confidence interval would be ±4%. |
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Important Safety Information about Loestrin 24 Fe: Oral contraceptives are not for everybody. Most side effects of the Pill are not serious and those that are, occur infrequently. Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks, and are increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, especially if you're over 35. Women who use oral contraceptives 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. The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases.
For further safety and other information please see the Patient Prescribing Information.
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