ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN LO, Your Birth Control Pill

MG TIP

Women taking control:
there are 11 million women taking the Pill today.

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Yes it is true! The Pill should
be taken at the same time
everyday. So set your Sidekick^®
or cell phone for a time
that works for you.

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What a relief—you don't have
to stop the Pill for months
before trying to get pregnant.

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Fact: Women who smoke
should not take the Pill.

The birth control pill – What about it?

In this section you will learn the basics about the Pill, including fast facts statistics, how it works, and if the Pill is an option for you.

Just about everybody knows about the birth control pill, aka “the Pill” – on the surface, it's pretty self-explanatory. It's a little tablet, you swallow it, you take it every day and it prevents pregnancy up to 99.9% of the time when you use it correctly (according to the Product Information).

So, what else is there to know? Well, lots…especially for the Modern Girl who wants to know more about what she's putting into her body. For starters, here are 5 basic but essential facts about the Pill:

It's a prescription medicine. You can only get the Pill through a doctor or other healthcare professional authorized to prescribe it.
It contains hormones. Hormones are the “active ingredient” in the Pill, and the reason why the Pill works. In fact, most birth control pills contain 2 different hormones – estrogen and progestin. That's why these types of pills are sometimes referred to as “combination” birth control pills.
Other than the obvious contraceptive benefit, the Pill also may benefit women in other ways, from regulating periods to helping protect against certain types of cancer of the female reproductive system.
It has risks as well as benefits, as with any medication. Both the benefits and the risks associated with taking the Pill are related to the hormones it contains. Over the years, researchers have developed new formulations of the Pill to lower the hormone dose while maintaining effectiveness.
The Pill does not protect against HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The birth control method that can best protect you against STDs, other than abstinence, is the condom, because it creates a physical barrier that stops the transmission of these diseases.

Learn more about the inner workings at thepill.com

You know that taking the Pill prevents pregnancy, but you may not be sure how it actually works in your body. If you're a Modern Girl, you'll want to know this. You may even view it as your duty to know this. So here it is: To understand how the Pill works, you first need to understand how your body works when you're not on the Pill. This sequence shows you step by step…and how the Pill can prevent pregnancy in – surprise! – not just one, or two, but three ways.

Is the Pill is right for you?

Looking for reliable birth control? The Pill is a good choice if taken correctly, but it's not the only one, and it's not right for everyone. There's a lot to consider – not only about the different methods themselves but also about the different benefits and risks that can help determine which might best fit you and your needs. One thing is for sure, if you're interested in the Pill then you need to commit to taking it every day. Beyond that, talking with healthcare professionals and close friends about their personal experiences is one way to start figuring out what could be right for you. Another is this handy interactive tool that compares the Pill with 11 other birth control methods.

So many kinds, how do you choose? >

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What is ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is a prescription oral contraceptive used for the prevention of pregnancy.
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO does not protect against HIV (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is not indicated for use in emergency contraception.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from hormonal contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and in women over 35 years of age. Women who use hormonal contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.

Who should not use ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?

You should not use ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or if you have any of the following conditions:

A history of heart attack or stroke, blood clots in the legs, lungs, or eyes, a history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs, chest pain, known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina, unexplained vaginal bleeding (until your doctor reaches a diagnosis), yellowing of the whites of your eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of hormonal contraceptives, liver tumor (benign or cancerous), or if you plan to have surgery with prolonged bed rest.

Tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had any of these conditions, he/she can recommend a safer method of birth control.

What are the possible side effects of ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?

Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting. If bleeding occurs in more than one cycle or lasts for more than a few days call your healthcare professional
Problems wearing contact lenses such as change in vision or inability to wear your lenses. If these occur, contact your healthcare professional
Fluid retention with swelling of the fingers or ankles and may raise your blood pressure. Contact your healthcare professional if you experience fluid retention.
Spotty darkening of the skin (particularly the face). This may persist after you stop using ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO
Other side effects include nausea and vomiting, change in appetite, headache, nervousness, depression, dizziness, loss of scalp hair, vaginal infections and allergic reactions.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these side effects while you are using ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO:
Sharp chest pain, coughing blood or sudden shortness of breath, pain in the calf, crushing chest pain or tightness in the chest, sudden, severe, headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, disturbances of vision or speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, sudden or complete loss of vision, breast lumps, severe pain or tenderness in the stomach area, difficulty in sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue or change in mood, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eye along with fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine or light-colored bowel movements.

What should I tell my healthcare professional before using ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?

Tell your healthcare professional if you: Smoke, are breast-feeding, or are taking any other medications.
Also, tell your healthcare professional if you have or have had:
Breast nodules, fibrocystic disease of the breast, an abnormal breast x-ray or mammogram, a family history of breast cancer, diabetes, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, high blood pressure, migraine or other headaches or epilepsy, depression, gallbladder, liver, heart or kidney disease, history of light or irregular menstrual periods.
Tell your healthcare professional about all of the medicines you are taking, before starting and while you are using ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, herbal and dietary supplements such as:

Barbiturates, bosentan, carbamazepine, phenybutazone, drugs used to treat HIV or AIDS, antibiotics, phenytoin, rifampin, topiramate, St. John’s Wort (a herbal supplement).

Also, tell your healthcare professional

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Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if any of your medicines are listed above.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see the Detailed Patient Labeling from the full Product Information.

The birth control pill – What about it?

In this section you will learn the basics about the Pill, including fast facts statistics, how it works, and if the Pill is an option for you.

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