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FAQs about shorter periods
| 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 okay? |
| 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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FAQs about how the Loestrin® 24 Fe birth control pill works
| Q |
how does Loestrin® 24 Fe work?
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| A |
Most birth control pills contain two hormones, an estrogen and a
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. |
FAQs about switching to the Loestrin® 24 Fe birth control pill
| Q |
how do I switch to Loestrin® 24 Fe if I'm
already on another birth control pill? |
| 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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FAQs about using the Loestrin® 24 Fe birth control pill
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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:
starting on day 1 of your period
starting on Sunday |
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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:
what do I do if I miss a pill?
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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Cammie likes 3-day weekends and 3-day periods.
See why
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Want to switch? Ready to start? Here’s what you need to know.
Find out now
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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.
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