MG TIP
Caution: patient labels may come in different sizes and shapes.
MG TIP
Always be sure you know everything about a medicine before you take
it. This information will help you get the full benefits from your
medicine.
MG TIP
Although it may sound strange, drinking water causes the body to
release excess fluid. A recommended amount is 8-glasses a day.
Details, Details, Details...It's all in the details
Sometimes all it takes is reading instructions and ingredients. In this
section you will learn how to understand the labels and how to
differentiate the options on the market according to benefits, side
effects and risks.
You've got the basics about the Pill, what's in it and how
it works. But is it really right for you? To answer that question,
it's important to know more about the specific benefits, and the
risks, of taking the Pill. Armed with that knowledge, you can also
have a more productive discussion with your healthcare professional
– but more about that later.
To help you dive into the details, there's a document that comes
packaged with your Pill and also can be found on Web sites –
it's called the detailed patient labeling (aka patient
labeling). Unlike other labels that you can read on the back of a
can while you're standing in the store, the label that accompanies
your medications, like the Pill, is much more detailed. So much
so, that you may have seen it and immediately put it aside or even been
a little intimidated. Well, don't be! We promise that
you don't need to be a brainiac or chemistry major to sort it out.
Full US Product
Information
What's in a label?
There are 3 very important things that the patient label will tell
you:
|
The benefits of using the Pill
|
|
The risks involved – this includes potential serious and
nonserious side effects plus information about who should not take
the Pill and why
|
|
How to take the Pill – to ensure that it is as effective as
possible
|
|
|
"The benefits:" There are 2 sections of the label that talk
about benefits – the first is about preventing pregnancy, which
compares the effectiveness of the Pill against other birth control
methods. You'll see that the Pill is among the most
effective nonsurgical methods. This information is expressed in
“failure rates” – the percentage of time in the
first year that pregnancy can happen with each method.
What's more, these are “real world” rates –
so, for example, if the Pill is used perfectly (meaning taken every
day around the same time) its failure rate is less than 1%; in the
real world, its failure rate is 5%. So, you see why it is
important to take it every day at the same time!
|
|
|
"The risks:" Like we said up front, any medication carries risks as
well as benefits. With help from your healthcare professional,
it is important to understand these risks so that you can better
weigh them against the benefits. The hard thing about
understanding risk is that the numbers often seem stated in ways that
make it difficult to apply to you. Or, in ways that can seem
scary. Let's break it down on the label. There are
4 key sections:
-
Who should not take the Pill – For most women, the
Pill is safe when used according to the US FDA-approved label.
However, there are women who, because of their health status,
should not take the Pill. That includes – and
it's a big red flag – women who smoke.
That's because the most serious risks associated with taking
the Pill are made a lot worse if you smoke. You've
heard it a million times, but seriously, don't smoke.
Life's a lot easier if you don't.
-
Risks – There several health risks called out on the
label. They can all be serious, but most of them are rare. The most
serious risks are blood clots, heart attacks and strokes –
and they can be fatal. These are the
“cardiovascular” side effects that are worse if you
smoke. Many of the risks can increase with age and
smoking. But, even if you are over 40, if you don't
smoke and are in good health, the benefits of taking the Pill (at
the lowest possible effective dose) may outweigh the possible
risks. If you are taking the Pill, the label also gives you a
list of warning signs, like specific types of pain or other sudden
events. If you experience any of these, it may be a signal of
something serious; and, definitely a signal for you to call your
healthcare professional.
-
Side Effects – There are side effects with all
medications, whether they are over the counter or
prescription. Many of the side effects of the Pill are not
serious, and may go away after the first few months of use.
It's a great irony of life that one of the most common side
effects is irregular bleeding such as spotting, especially for
women who go on the Pill expecting a more regular period. Not
only is it embarrassing, it can also make you stop taking your Pill
if you think you're getting your period. Don't do
that! If it persists, especially past the third month on your
Pill, call your healthcare professional instead. It may be time for
an alternative “Pill experience”.
-
Precautions – These aren't risks like side
effects, but they do spell out some more general health-related
situations that you should be aware of if you are on the Pill or
want to begin taking it, for example, if you are breast-feeding or
taking other medications that may interact with the Pill.
|
|
|
"Additional potential benefits:" There is a second section about the
potential “noncontraceptive” health benefits, many of
which relate to period control – for example, making them more
regular and lighter, or reducing the pain that many women have during
their periods. If you're interested in these
benefits, you should certainly bring them up with your healthcare
professional when you are discussing which pill may be best for you.
|
|
"How to take the Pill:" Because it is so important to take the
Pill correctly, the label includes a lot of detail on how to do this,
from when to start your first pack to what to do if you do miss a
pill, or two, or even three or more. If this happens to you,
and it can happen to the best of us, don't panic. You
might be able to make it up. But, if you can't make up
the missed pills because you missed too many or if you have any
doubt, just use a backup method until you can be sure again.
|
Try these helpful tips
for how to remember to take your Pill every day.
Next:
You
want to look where? >
back
to top
