Loestrin 20

Loestrin 20 Contraceptive Pills Online

Loestrin is a combined contraceptive pill used to stop you from becoming pregnant. It contains Norethisterone Acetate – this is a hormone known as a progestogen and Ethinylestradiol – this is a hormone known as estrogen.

These hormones are similar to those produced naturally by your body during pregnancy.

These hormones in your pill help to stop eggs being released for fertilisation, and thicken the fluid present in the neck of the womb hence making it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb, and to prevent the lining of the womb becoming thick enough for a fertilised egg to become embedded in it.

• I’m going to take Loestrin 20 for the first time do I need to use additional contraceptive measures?

  This depends on where you are in your period if you are on or up to day 5 of your period you can start taking Loestrin 20 without the use of additional contraceptives. However, if you are after day 5 then you should use additional contraceptive measure for 7 days whilst taking Loestrin 20.

• I have just given birth when can I start taking Loestrin 20?

  If you have just given birth and are not planning on breastfeeding you can start taking Loestrin 20 twenty-first days after delivery if there have not been any complications and you are able to walk, in this case, you will not need to use any additional contraceptives.  However, if your delivery was more than 21 days ago you will have to use additional contraceptive measure for the first 7 days whilst taking Loestrin 20.

• Do I have to take Loestrin 20 on a full stomach?

  Loestrin 20 can be taken with or without food.

• Will Loestrin 20 protect me from getting sexually transmitted infections?

  No, only barrier methods of contraception such as condoms protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

• Am I still protected I missed one Pill?

  Yes, as long as you have only missed ONE tablet you will still be protected. You should take this tablet as soon as possible even if it means taking two tablets at the same time.

• Can Loestrin 20 be taken whilst breastfeeding?

  It is recommended that you do not take Loestrin 20 or any other combined hormonal contraceptives whilst breastfeeding as the hormones contained in them can be excreted into breast milk.

Side Effects of Loestrin

As with all medications, there are some side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some of the sides effects associated with Loestrin 20 are stomach ache, headache and painful periods.

Some of the more serious side effects are harmful blood clots in veins or arteries, fits, increase in blood pressure and breast cancer.

For a full list of side effects can be seen in the patient information leaflet and it is always advised you read this prior to taking any medication.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Loestrin:

• if you have ever had depression
• if you have diabetes
• if you have asthma
• if you have kidney problems
• if you have epilepsy or any other problem that can cause fits (convulsions)
• if you have fibroids of the womb
• if you have a form of deafness called ‘otosclerosis’
• if you have a muscle problem caused by lower than normal levels of the mineral calcium in the blood (tetany)
• if you have brown patches on your face and body (chloasma). You should keep out of direct sunlight to stop this problem from getting worse
• if you have a problem with the nervous system called ‘multiple sclerosis’.