An effective method of contraception- isn't that what we all want ladies? What a trial and error journey it is though eh? There isn't any shortcut either as all our bods are unique and until we swallow a pill, even Vitamin B3 (which brings me out in an embarassing itchy red rash all over!) we just cannot predict what reaction we shall have.
The contraceptive pills I write about are approved by the FDA so that's a start I guess but today I want to give a basic overview of one in particular, Alesse.
Regardless of which 'pill' suits you, for all of them to be most effective, you must use them correctly.
All hormonal contraceptive pills can cause some side effects, in varying intensities, in some women. After all, we are swallowing chemicals that affect our natural hormone levels each month, just like being pregnant does!
Many women who wish to manage their birth control in a convenient way find that Alesse suits them very well (Alesse is also sold under the brand names Aviane, Levlite, Levlen, Levota, Tri-leven, Triphasil, Trivora and Triphasil-28 -the active ingredients in these pills are levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol)
The synthetic female hormones in Alesse do 3 things in your body:
- stop your egg from escaping from your ovary. This event, which happens once a month (per cycle) is called 'ovulation'. No egg to fertilize boys? No heir this month!
- alter the consistency of the mucous around your cervix (neck of the womb)- now this REALLY makes it tough swimming for those eager little spermies. Alesse makes the mucous much thicker than normal so it stops the 'boys' from reaching an egg even if one does manage to escape
- change the nature of the lining layers of your uterus (womb)- this lining becomes much thinner than normal so that a fertilised egg, called a 'zygote' at this stage, does not find ' a comfortable room at the inn' to bed down in, no attachment to the uterus means no 'baby grows' to buy yet darling
If you take Alesse make sure that.....
You follow the instructions on the packet or your doctor's orders. The pills are laid out in a sequence you must follow on each day of your menstrual cycle. Take a pill daily and at the same time if you can for maximum effectiveness and protection. If you miss a pill, there are options to keep you protected, which may mean taking a double dose the next day but check with the doctor first because missing an 'inactive pill' (one of the dummy 7) is no cause for concern.
Some warnings to heed
Are you pregnant now or have you just had a child? If so, do not take Alesse.
Do you fall into one of these groups below ? If you do, you should also avoid taking Alesse or any other type of oral contraceptive pill:
- women who have problems with blood clotting, abnormal bleeding every month, circulation or high blood pressure
- women with diabetes
- women who have cancer of the uterus or breast (these are related to hormone problems)
- women with liver problems
Extra precautions to take when you first start taking Alesse
As the Irish say 'To be sure, to be sure' and I'm not telling you to use 2 condoms at the same time but even one and maybe a spermicide is good 'insurance' against pregnancy during the first few weeks until your body adjusts to the changing levels of hormones caused by Alesse.
We are told that if we take an oral contraceptive, we increase our chances of developing 'plaque' in our arteries and subsequently developing a heart disease. This is specially true for smokers and women over 35 years of age. While this does not suddenly appear overnight, it is wise to heed this warning if you plan to take Alesse for years and years without a break and I would be looking for an alternative method of birth control if I smoked.
Are you taking other medicines besides 'the pill'?
As with all 'cocktails' of mixed medications, your doctor MUST be told if you are taking 'over the counter medicines' (yes, I know it sounds silly but even vitamins and mineral supplements) or any other prescribed medication as well as Alesse, since they could reduce the effectiveness of this contraceptive and you would unknowingly be putting yourself at a higher risk of getting pregnant.
And last but not least - those side effects!
It would be irresponsible of me not to mention the main side effects that some women have reported when using Alesse. Every BODY is unique remember, so while you should not tempt fate by expecting to have side effects yourself, you should monitor your reactions carefully when taking Alesse and try to distinguish between monthly changes that you usually have with your period and any different ones you get with Alesse.
Mild nausea is not uncommon but often fades after the first couple of months. Unfortunately, (well, I suppose that depends on the way you look at it too!) some women seem to have less interest in sex altogether when on 'the pill'.
Birth defects have been linked to hormonal contraceptives though no studies have proved this.
The production of breast milk in some women has slowed down but I, for one, do not recommend that you use a hormonal contraceptive, including Alesse, while you are breastfeeding because you don't know what it will do to your baby.
Some other women have found that they feel depressed, have a little swelling or numbness, notice an increase in hair growth or a darkening of their skin and some women even find that their contraceptive 'pill' affects the wearing of their contact lenses. It's possible that you may have a side effect not listed here too.
Common Sense is the key, trials and careful monitoring will hopefully reward you with an effective contraceptive pill, either Alesse or one of the other popular ones, that you will find convenient, comfortable and compatible with your body's metabolism.
Carole Pemberton is committed to researching and presenting the latest information on contraceptives, including Alesse, to empower women to enjoy their sexuality and knowledgeably manage their birth control. For up to date free tips, lighthearted videos, useful guides and a 'no nonsense' website that tells it like it is,
visit: http://www.contraceptivereviewer.com
