It’s important to take Lutera exactly as the doctor tells you. There’s detailed advice on the package insert that comes with your Lutera pill, which also includes everything you need to know about what to do if you miss a pill. You can always speak with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.

There are a few different ways to start taking Lutera. They’re listed here, but you should discuss them with the doctor to decide what’s best for you.

One way is to start on the first day of your period. This way, you’re protected immediately.

Alternatively, you can wait until the Sunday after your period starts. On that Sunday, take the first white pill in the pack. You’ll need to use a back-up birth control method like condoms for a week because this way doesn’t protect you immediately.

Make sure you take Lutera at the same time each day. The Lutera pack contains 21 “active” white pills (which contain hormones) and seven inactive pills (which are included to help you get into the routine of taking Lutera every day).

You can take Lutera with or without food. If you experience feelings of sickness or nausea, try taking the pill with a meal.

It’s generally safe to drink alcohol while taking Lutera, but you should keep your alcohol consumption within healthy limits.

Lutera is a “low dose” combined pill. It contains only 0.1mg of levonorgestrel and 0.2mg of ethinyl estradiol. Low-dose birth control pills have a lower risk of potential side effects than regular doses.

A higher dose version called Levora is also available.

Common side effects associated with Lutera include sleep disturbances, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding or spotting between periods, sore breasts and changes in libido.

In the majority of cases, mild side effects will go away on their own after a few weeks or a couple of months of use.

See a doctor if you get side effects that cause discomfort or don’t go away. They may suggest switching to a different pill.

There’s no evidence linking birth control pills and weight gain. Despite that, many women who take the pill find that their weight fluctuates. Because weight changes can be due to so many reasons, it’s not known whether there is any true correlation between the pill and weight gain.

If you do find yourself experiencing weight fluctuations when taking Lutera, speak to a doctor. They may be able to help or suggest a different pill.

If you do notice side effects and they’re uncomfortable, painful or otherwise affecting your overall quality of life, see a doctor. It may be that your prescription needs switching or adjusting. There are many different types of combined pills, and usually it’s just a case of finding the right one for you.

You must stop taking Lutera immediately if you have any prolonged or heavy vaginal bleeding, breast lumps or changes or any symptoms of an allergic reaction, and seek medical attention. It's also important to be able to identify the signs of a blood clot (swelling or feeling of heat in the back of the leg, shortness of breath or feeling dizzy) and seek medical help right away if you notice these.

Consult the package insert for more info on birth control side effects.

Lower-dose birth control pills like Lutera are thought to be just as effective as combined pills which contain higher amounts of estrogen, but they come with a reduced risk of adverse side effects.

While serious side effects are rare, they are still possible. Women who smoke and are 35 or older will typically not be prescribed combined birth control. Progestin-only pills (aka mini pills) are prescribed instead.

Women with a family history of blood clots or heart disease, or who have conditions like obesity or high blood pressure, should also exercise caution when taking pills like Lutera.

Yes, there are several other brands that are the same as Lutera. They include Alesse, Aviane, Falmina, Larissa, Lessina, Orsythia, Sronyx, Vieva, Evaluna 20, Anulette 20, Prionelle, Leanore, Microlite and Aubra EQ. These all contain the same ingredients as Lutera and work in the same way.

If you used to take one of the above pills but it has been discontinued, Lutera may be a good alternative for you.

They’re both the same medication, just in different packaging. So they should be as effective as each other and have the same side effects.

They are a little different in price. Lutera is slightly cheaper than Aviane.

That said, some women may find that a particular brand works better for them, even though the ingredients are the same.

If you’re not sure which is best for you, or you’re thinking about switching, log in to EveAdam and ask the doctor for help.

They’re very similar. The hormones in both pills are the same, and the amounts of each are the same, so they work in a very similar way.

The main difference is that the price of Lutera is a little higher than that of Vienva.

Switching pills is simple with an EveAdam subscription. All you need to do is log in and select “Edit treatment.” You’ll then be able to request a change of pill from the licensed physician. If you’re not sure what you want to switch to, you can also ask the doctor a question by using the chat feature in your account.