Loestrin Fe birth control pills are more effective when they are taken at the same time every day. And this is birth control we’re talking about, so effectiveness is super important. Before you start taking your pills, pick a time that’ll be easy to stick to every day of the week. So if you get up at the crack of dawn on weekdays but sleep in on weekends, first thing in the morning might not be the best choice. (We like noon, personally, but it’s up to you.) If it’s hard for you to remember your pill every day, try setting a reminder on your phone — there are even apps to help you. When you start taking Loestrin Fe, it’s a good idea to use a back-up method like condoms for the first 7 days. This gives your body time to adjust to the pill and for its effectiveness to kick in, ensuring you’re as protected as possible. You don’t have to take your birth control pill with food, but you might have an upset stomach when you start using it. Nausea is a common side effect of using Loestrin Fe. If you experience nausea around the time you take your pill, try having it with a small meal or snack to help settle your stomach. Loestrin Fe 1/20 and Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 have 21 active pills you’ll take for the first three weeks followed by a week of inactive pills with an iron supplement — that’s when you’ll have your period.

There isn’t a 100% effective birth control method, but Loestrin Fe comes pretty close. When taken correctly, it’s around 99% effective. This means that if 100 women took Loestrin Fe daily for a year, less than 1 woman would become pregnant. By taking birth control correctly, we mean at the same time every day and as directed on the accompanying package insert. Correct use of birth control is how it’s done in clinical trials. But in day-to-day life, you’re more likely to take your pill “typically.” Typical use considers things like taking your pill late or occasionally missing a pill. This lowers the effectiveness and your chances of being pregnant increase, so it’s important to stick to the routine as well as possible. If you’re finding yourself regularly forgetting pills, a non-daily method like the patch or ring might be better for you.

Missed pills can happen from time to time. Don’t panic — just get back on track as soon as possible. If you miss one Loestrin Fe pill, take it as soon as you remember. This could mean taking two in one day. After that, take one pill a day like normal. If you miss two active pills in Week 1 or Week 2, take two pills a day for the next two days. After that, take one pill a day like normal. We recommend using a back-up birth control like condoms for a week to make sure you’re adequately protected. If you miss two consecutive active pills in Week 3 (or if you miss three active pills in a row during any week), throw your pack away and start a new one that day. (If you’re a Sunday Starter, keep taking a pill each day until you reach Sunday and then start a new pack.) When you miss a pill, the hormone levels in your body change and you might not get your period that month. If you don’t get your period the following month, though, you should take a pregnancy test.

Side effects are a possibility for anyone who uses any kind of medication. Birth control is no different. Some side effects are much more commonly reported, and they tend to be milder too. Common side effects when you’re taking birth control pills normally go away on their own the longer you use it. The most common side effects reported when using Loestrin Fe 1/20 and 1.5/30 include:

• Acne
• Tender or painful breasts
• Water retention
• Feeling dizzy
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swelling in your abdomen
• Spotting
• Irregular periods

The most common side effects happen as your body gets used to taking the pill. It can be a little annoying but will pass as you continue taking the pill. If you are concerned about any side effects you’re experiencing, make a note of the effects and when they begin. You can always speak to a licenced doctor through the chat feature in your EveAdam account if you have concerns and to determine whether Loestrin Fe is the best option for you. When you start using Loestrin Fe, you should carefully read through the patient information that comes with the pill packs. It contains the pill’s full safety information, including potential side effects. You might not experience any actual side effects when you’re using Loestrin Fe, but it’s important to be aware of what could happen.

Serious side effects rarely happen. But if they do, it’s important to recognize the signs and to get medical assistance as soon as possible. You should go to the emergency room and stop using your birth control. You should read through the information leaflet provided with your birth control pack thoroughly to be aware of any possible issues that could arise. With Loestrin Fe 1.5/30, you should be aware of signs of blood clotting and stroke, but you should also be mindful of the symptoms of heart attack. If you feel a pressure or a tightness in your chest, or if you experience shortness of breath and a cold sweat, you might be having a heart attack and you should go to the emergency room. With Loestrin 1/20, you should be aware of changes to your mood, issues with your vision (particularly if you wear contact lenses or you’re nearsighted), lumps in your breast, migraines, blood clotting, signs of a stroke (numbness on one side of your body, suddenly feeling faint or slurred speech) or severe pain in your stomach.

If you experience any significant side effects (like an allergic reaction to Loestrin Fe), don’t wait to speak to a doctor through your EveAdam account. Stop using your birth control immediately and go to the emergency room. The patient information included with the pills will give you further information on the more serious side effects.

Loestrin Fe 1/20 and Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 are both combined birth control pills with 21 active pills and a week of inactive pills that contain an iron supplement. The numbers in their name represent how much of each hormone they have — Loestrin Fe 1/20 has 1mg norethindrone acetate and 20mcg (that’s micrograms) ethinyl estradiol. There is also a low-dose version called Lo Loestrin Fe, which contains the lowest daily dose of estrogen available in hormonal birth control.

Blisovi 24 Fe is a generic version of Loestrin 24 Fe, which has been discontinued. Loestrin Fe 1/20 and Blisovi 24 Fe have the same amount of hormones in the active pills: 1mg of norethindrone acetate and 20mcg of ethinyl estradiol. The difference is that Loestrin Fe 1/20 has 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills, and Blisovi 24 Fe has 24 active pills and 4 inactive pills. Everyone responds to hormones differently, but it’s thought that 24-day birth control pills lead to fewer hormone fluctuations. If you have questions about what strength or pack type of birth control to choose, the doctor you’ll speak to during your EveAdam consultation will be able to give you advice.

There are a lot of different birth control options available that are similar to Loestrin Fe. Generic versions of Loestrin Fe 1/20 and Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 include Aurovela Fe, Blisovi Fe, Gildess Fe, Hailey Fe, Junel Fe, Microgestin Fe and Larin Fe. Generic versions of the discontinued Loestrin 24 Fe include Larin 24 Fe, Aurovela 24 Fe, Gildess 24 Fe and Blisovi 24 Fe.

Lo Loestrin Fe is the lowest daily dose of estrogen currently available, so there is nothing exactly like it. If you are OK taking a slightly higher dose of estrogen, Loestrin Fe 1/20 is a possible alternative. Lo Loestrin Fe has 10mcg of estrogen in the active tablets and Loestrin Fe 1/20 has 20mcg. Another option is not a pill at all, but a vaginal ring. NuvaRing comes with a slightly different hormonal makeup, containing etonogestrel instead of norethindrone acetate, but releases 15mcg of ethinyl estradiol every 24 hours. You can also skip the estrogen entirely and try a mini pill, which is a progestin-only birth control pill.