Loestrin Contraceptive Pill

Loestrin is a brand of combined contraceptive pill that is manufactured by Galen. It is a very effective method of contraception and this pill comes in two types. You either use Loestrin 20 or Loestrin 30. Both pills work in the same way but the difference between them is that they contain slightly different levels of the two hormones oestrogen and progestogen.

Loestrin 30 contains 1.5mg of norethisterone acetate, which is a derivative of progestogen and 0.03mg or the oestrogen derivative ethinylestradiol. Loestrin 20 is a slightly lower dose, which contains 1mg of norethisterone acetate and 0.02mg of ethinylestradiol. It is used to give to women that do not react well to higher levels of oestrogen. The only other difference between the two pills is that Loestrin 30 is a pale green tablet and Loestrin 20 is a pale blue coloured tablet.

Loestrin is a monophasic pill, which means that within every strip, each pill contains the same amount of hormones. You will be given the pill in strips of 21 pills so you take a pill every day for 21 days and then you have a seven-day break. During this break, you do not take any pills and you will experience a withdrawal bleed. This is like a lighter, shorter version of a period. You then restart the next strip of pills a week later.

This form of contraceptive pill is over 99% effective if it is taken correctly. It is also a reversible method so that if you want to get pregnant, all you have to do is stop taking it. It is also very efficient and an indiscrete form of contraception. An added bonus is that it regulates your periods so that you know exactly when they are and they are often lighter and shorter which makes them less painful. However, the one big downfall of the contraceptive pill is that it will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. The only method of contraception that will do so is condoms.

Aside from the hormones, Loestrin also contains lactose, sucrose, maize starch, talc, powdered acacia, magnesium stearate and colorings.

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