Loestrin 1/20

It's a long-held belief that birth control causes weight gain, but it's a result of water retention and bloating instead of actual fat cells. Some people, for instance, may confuse enlarged breast size for weight gain. Evidence shows that birth control weight gain is just a myth.

A hormonal imbalance is often what's responsible for your skin problems. Many dermatologists will prescribe hormone-based birth control pills to fight acne. If you're one of the countless people who suffer from acne, Loestrin 1/20 could be a great help.

The "20" part of the name indicates how much estrogen the pill contains. When compared to higher doses, such as those found in Loestrin 1/30, many women find that less estrogen reduces some of the more unpleasant side effects, such as breast tenderness. Lower doses are often preferred by older women, though there's no reason why younger women can't use it.

Loestrin 1/20 has been known to interact negatively with other medications, so be sure to discuss anything you're taking (even nonprescription drugs, herbal supplements, etc.) with your doctor or one of our professionals before starting. This is especially important if you're taking aromatase inhibitors, cancer medication, or drugs for chronic hepatitis C. Also, keep in mind that there's still a small chance that, even when Loestrin 1/20 is taken properly, you'll still get pregnant. This the case with any hormone-based birth control pill. You're still about 99 percent covered, though.

All hormone-based birth control pills pose a slight risk of side effects. Some minor ones associated with Loestrin 1/20 include nausea, headaches, weight change, water retention, and breast tenderness. You may experience spotting, sudden heavy flow, irregular periods, or missed periods. Major side effects are extremely rare but have been documented. These include lumps in the breast, mood changes, depression, severe stomach pain, blood clots, migraines, and vision problems. Stroke-like symptoms have appeared, such as slurred speech, dizziness, fainting, and pain, numbness, or tingling on one side of the body. While these side effects sound frightening, keep in mind that very few women experience even the minor ones. For example, nausea is one of the most documented side effects, yet only 1 to 10 percent of women experience it at all.

All birth control pills pose some risk of allergic reactions, though the odds of experiencing any are quite low. Both the hormones and the inactive ingredients found in Loestrin can potentially cause reactions such as hives, itching, rashes, swelling around the face, and trouble breathing. Existing medical conditions can become worse when taking Loestrin 1/20. It's especially important to let your doctor or one of our Nurx professionals know if you have a history of blood clots, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, stroke, or heart problems. Loestrin and other birth control pills can also affect your vision if you're nearsighted or wear contacts.

Loestrin 1/20 is a very popular birth control pill that's available in most pharmacies nationwide. It's also a highly affordable option, especially given that we currently accept many types of health insurance and our list is growing all the time. Since Loestrin is only available by prescription, the doctors that we partner with can help. For younger women, the age requirements to receive birth control vary by state. We at Nurx do have an age requirement of 12 years or older to be considered.

Loestrin 1/20 is a pill that's taken every day. To avoid any nausea and stomach upset that some women experience, you may prefer taking Loestrin 1/20 before bedtime or after dinner. If you experience vomiting or diarrhea after taking your pill, you may want to consider the dose missed and use backup prevention for a while. Be sure to follow the instructions of your doctor or one of our Nurx professionals when you first begin. This hormone-based pill needs to be timed correctly in order to work properly.