Birth Control and the Pill FAQ

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Can taking the Pill make my periods lighter and more regular?
When you take ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO, your periods may be more regular and more predictable. Your periods may also become lighter and possibly even shorter.

How does ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO work?
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO delivers a low level of hormones to inhibit ovulation. If ovulation does not occur, your egg is not released, and you can't get pregnant. Watch how ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® works >

Why are the pills 4 different colors?
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is a 28-day birth control regimen. There are 21 "active" pills (7 white pills, 7 light blue pills, and 7 dark blue pills) with hormones to take for 3 weeks. This is followed by 7 green pills to take for 1 week. The green pills contain no active ingredient but are intended to help you to remember take your pills correctly. Your ORTHO DIALPAK^® Tablet Dispenser is labeled with the days of the week, so you'll know exactly which pill to take each day. Be sure to take a pill every day at the same time. Once you have taken the last green pill, begin a new cycle of pills.

Am I protected from getting pregnant during "inactive" pills?
Yes. As long as you have taken your pills correctly (at the same time, every day), you are still protected from unplanned pregnancies even when you are taking the placebo pills—the green "inactive" pills—in the fourth week of your ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO pack.

The 28-pill pack contains 21 "active" pills (7 white, 7 light blue, and 7 dark blue; all with hormones) to take for 3 weeks. This is followed by 1 week of "inactive" pills (7 green; all without hormones).

Is ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO effective?
A clinical study of more than 6,000 women in the United States and Canada showed that ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is safe and highly effective. It delivers a low level of hormones to prevent pregnancy.

What is the difference between ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® and ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO?
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is a "triphasic" birth control pill just like ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^®. While both ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO and ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® deliver low levels of progestin over the course of your cycle, ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO delivers a lower amount of estrogen—25 mcg compared to 35 mcg.

Read the ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO full Product Information.

ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® helped my acne; can ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO do the same?
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO has not been studied for the treatment of acne. ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® is indicated for the treatment of moderate acne vulgaris in females ≥ 15 years of age, who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptive therapy, desire contraception, have achieved menarche and are unresponsive to topical anti-acne medications.

Are there any risks associated with taking the Pill?
Your healthcare professional will determine if you are an appropriate candidate for ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO. 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 are over 35. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have 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.

Besides birth control, are there other benefits to using the Pill?
Menstrual cramps are usually less severe when you're on the Pill. Women who use the Pill may have some protection against developing ovarian or uterine cancer. In addition, acute pelvic inflammatory disease, which is a serious infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries, and ectopic or tubal pregnancy may occur less frequently.

I don't have prescription drug coverage. How can I make ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO an affordable option?
If you don't have prescription drug coverage, you may be eligible for an assistance program that could provide discounted or free prescriptions. Learn more at www.access2wellness.com. Access2wellness™ provides access to more than 1,000 free and discounted prescription medications for uninsured and underinsured individuals who qualify.

What are the most common side effects of the Pill?
Most side effects of the Pill are not serious. The most common side effects are nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain, breast tenderness, fluid retention and difficulty wearing contact lenses. These side effects, especially nausea and vomiting, may subside within the first 3 months of use.

How long before I'm protected against pregnancy?
If you are taking the Pill for the first time, and you use a Sunday Start, you MUST use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms or spermicide, for the first 7 days. If you use a Day 1 Start, you are protected from becoming pregnant as soon as you take your first Pill.

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Is spotting or breakthrough bleeding normal while on the Pill?
In the first 2 or 3 months of Pill use, it is not uncommon for some women to experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting or bleeding between periods as their bodies adjust to the hormones. The good news is that ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO has demonstrated low rates of breakthrough bleeding and spotting. In an Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc, clinical study, fewer than 1 in 5 ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO users reported these potentially embarrassing side effects in their first month on the Pill.

If after the first 3 months, you experience irregular bleeding that lasts for more than a few days, talk to your healthcare professional.

Do I need to take my pill at a particular time of day?
The correct way to take the Pill is to take one pill each day, at the same time. Select a time that's easy for you to remember. If there is something you do at the same time each day-for instance, brushing your teeth—take your pill then. Missed pills may increase the risk of pregnancy and may also increase your chance of experiencing some side effects, such as bleeding between periods. Click here for tips on how to remember to take your pill.

What should I do if I miss pills?
Sometimes schedules get hectic and women forget to take their pills. While it's very important that you take your pill at the same time every day for the Pill to be most effective, don't panic if you forget to take one on time. Review the instructions in our What if I Miss a Pill? section and pay close attention to whether or not you need to use a backup method of birth control, such as condoms or spermicide.

What should I do if I take the pills out of sequence?
It depends on the day and week that you took the "active" or "inactive" pill out of sequence. Your healthcare professional is the best person to decide what your next steps should be.

Can I get pregnant if I miss one pill?
Probably not-however, the more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant. It's important to take your pills every day as scheduled.

If I miss a period, does it mean that I am pregnant?
A missed period does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. Although it is unlikely, you may miss a period when you first start taking the Pill. As long as you've taken your pills exactly as instructed, a missed period is probably not a problem. Continue as usual with the next cycle of pills, but inform your healthcare professional. If you miss 2 consecutive periods, you may be pregnant. Stop taking your pills and check with your healthcare professional immediately. Until you know whether you are pregnant it is very important to use another form of birth control, such as condoms.

What if I think I'm pregnant?
If you think you may be pregnant, stop taking your pills and check with your healthcare professional immediately. Until you know whether you are pregnant, it is very important to use another form of birth control, such as condoms.

Can I use ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO continually to skip my period?
ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is not approved to be used in this manner. If this is something that interests you, talk to your healthcare professional.

How do I switch from another birth control pill?
Switching to ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO from another birth control pill is easy-and you can do so while maintaining a continuous level of protection from pregnancy. Simply start your new pack of ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO pills the next day after you take your last "inactive" pill of your previous brand of birth control pills. If you follow these instructions carefully, you should not have to use a backup method of birth control. Learn more on how to switch from other birth control methods.

Should my partner use a condom even though I'm taking the Pill?
The Pill is one of the best nonsurgical, reversible methods to prevent pregnancy, but if you are sexually active and have more than one partner, it is essential that your partners always use a condom. ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against transmission of HIV (AIDS) or sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B and syphilis. If you think you are at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease, using a condom may give you some protection against these diseases.

Do I need to use a backup form of birth control while on an antibiotic, and for how long?
Some drugs, including certain antibiotics, can interact with birth control pills and may make them less effective in preventing pregnancy, or cause an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Your healthcare professional can best answer whether your antibiotic will interact with the effectiveness of your pill.

What should I do if I take other medications?
Certain drugs may interact with birth control pills and may make them less effective in preventing pregnancy or cause an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Such drugs include rifampin, drugs used for epilepsy such as barbiturates, anticonvulsants such as topiramate (Topamax®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®* is one brand of this drug), phenytoin (Dilantin®† is one brand of this drug), phenylbutazone, certain drugs used in the treatment of HIV or AIDS, and possibly certain antibiotics. A possible interaction has been suggested with hormonal contraceptives and the herbal supplement St. John's wort based on some reports of oral contraceptive users experiencing breakthrough bleeding shortly after starting St. John's wort. Pregnancies have been reported by users of combined hormonal contraceptives who also used some form of St. John's wort. You may need to use additional contraception when you take drugs that can make oral contraceptives less effective. If you are taking any other medications or herbal medicines, be sure to tell your healthcare professional or pharmacist.
* Tegretol is a registered trademark of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
† Dilantin is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.

How long can I stay on the Pill?
Birth control pills are the most popular form of reversible contraception in the United States. In fact, 80% of women have used the Pill at some time during their lives. Products such as ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN^® LO can be prescribed by a healthcare professional to healthy, nonsmoking women after age 40, provided there are no risk factors that may make taking the Pill inappropriate. How long you would like to stay on the Pill is something you should discuss with your healthcare professional.

Is it necessary to take a break from using the Pill?
There is no medical reason to take a break from using the Pill. How long you would like to stay on the Pill is something you should discuss with your healthcare professional.

I've been on the Pill. What do I do if I want to get pregnant?
Talk to your healthcare professional about steps you should take to ensure a healthy pregnancy. He or she can help you decide when to stop taking your birth control pill.

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