What is this medication for?Combined hormonal contraceptives contain two types of female hormones, estrogen and progestogen. This medication can help prevent ovulation and regulates other naturally occurring hormones in the body. When taken correctly, this prevents pregnancy and promotes regular menstrual bleeding. Show
There are typically two types of regimens depending on the medication you are prescribed. This leaflet describes the combined hormonal
contraceptives with a 21-day regimen, which includes:
How should I take/use this medication?
What should I do if I forget to take/use this medication?If you forget to take a dose, you must follow the steps below to ensure that the contraceptive effect is not reduced. Within 12 hours: Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember. Take the next tablet at your usual time. More than 12 hours: If the missed tablet is within
If sexual intercourse happened in the previous 7 days, you may be pregnant. See your doctor for advice as soon as possible.
Depending on whether you have taken your tablets correctly in the 7 days before the first missed tablet, you would have to follow the following options:
**If you miss your period (especially with missed tablets), check with your doctor to find out if you are pregnant before continuing to take the next cycle of contraceptives. If you vomit or suffer from diarrhea within 3 to 4 hours of taking this medication, the tablet may not be absorbed. This is considered a missed dose. You should then follow the instructions above. What precautions should I take?Inform your healthcare professional if:
What are some common side-effects of this medication?
Inform your doctor if the side effects above become severe and bother you. What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Using a combined hormonal medication increases a woman’s risk of developing blood clots
compared to a woman not taking any combined hormonal contraception. The risk of developing blood clot in a vein is highest during the first year a woman uses the medication. Other risk factors of developing blood clots include smoking and obesity. However, the formation of blood clot is rare and the doctor would have considered the risks against the benefits before making the recommendation. The symptoms of blood clot may include one or more of the following:
Other rare but serious effects include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately. What medication should I avoid when I take this medication?Some medications including antibiotics and antifungals may affect how the medication works or be affected by the medication. Please inform your other healthcare professionals about this medication which you are taking if you are seeing them for other medical conditions. How should I store this medication?Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight at room temperature. Keep this medication away from children. How should I throw away this medication safely?Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin. Disclaimers If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information. This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information. Last updated on
January 2021 Which birth control has the highest level of estrogen?Since combination pills have the highest level of estrogen, switching to a low-dose pill or mini-pill could alleviate some of the side effects.
Is 30 mcg of estrogen a lot?A pill is considered low dose if it contains less than 30 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen, and those that contain 10 mcg of estrogen are considered ultra-low-dose. This is the smallest dose of estrogen available in combination birth control pills.
Is estradiol the same as birth control?Descriptions. Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone combination is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a birth control pill that contains two types of hormones, ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, and when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month.
Do birth control pills raise estrogen levels?Birth control pills flood our bodies with high doses of artificial estrogen and progesterone, causing our production of natural hormones to turn off, preventing ovulation, and thinning the unterine lining. This can lead to a hormonal imbalance such as estrogen dominance.
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