Please note: Throughout this text, the Pill refers to all birth control pills in general, including Ortho Tri-Cyclen. When the info is specifically about Ortho Tri-Cyclen or any other brand of contraceptive, we will refer to that particular brand by name.
:: What is the birth control pill (The Pill)?
The Pill or birth control pill is an oral contraceptive medication. The Pill greatly improves a woman’s life allowing her to stay worry-free of an unplanned pregnancy.
The Pill generally refers to daily regimens of combined-hormone tablets, with formulations that contain a combination of progestin and estrogen compounds, the synthetic equivalents for the hormones progesterone and estrogen naturally produced by your body.
The Pill is the most popular method of reversible contraception. In fact, 8 out of 10 women use the Pill at some point in their lives. What makes the Pill so preferred by women is that, on top of being very discreet and convenient to use, it is extremely reliable, therefore allowing women to be more confident and spontaneous with their sex life.
Even so, if this is your first time needing a method of contraception, making a choice can be difficult unless you are well informed. You may have read or heard many things about the Pill, some of which made you form a negative opinion about it. Statistics show that 95 percent of Pill users are happy with it. This leaves some who did have a negative experience. Negative experience with the Pill can be due to side effects (experienced differently by different women), or misuse (failure to follow directions, or use despite contraindications).
Since the introduction of the Pill in 1960, people and organizations with a negative opinion of birth control have been and still are spreading false rumors to discredit the Pill and scare women. You may also have read or heard the biased opinions of women who used old-fashioned Pills. Early formulations of the Pill contained what we know today to be unnecessarily high doses that were causing numerous side effects and health hazards.
Today’s Pill formulations, made with new generation hormones, are much safer and very unlikely to cause adverse effects. On top of being extremely effective in preventing pregnancy, there are many other benefits from using the Pill  . Some women even use the Pill to plan their menstrual periods. Find out how .
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:: Are all birth control pills the same?
No. Not all birth control pills contain the same type of hormones.
Generally, the Pill refers to combination birth control pills. These contain two types of hormones, estrogen and progestin. Most of the currently available birth control pills contain the same estrogen, Ethinyl Estradiol, but differ in the type of progestin. Progestins come in different strengths and different androgenic potency. A high-strength progestin (such as Desogestrel) can be used in a much lower dose and still be as effective as a higher dose of a low-strength progestin (such as Norethindrone). Different Pill formulations may also cause different side effects in some women.
Combination Pills can be mono-phasic or multi-phasic. Mono-phasic means that all of the 21 active Pills in the pack have the same amount of progestin and estrogen. Multi-phasic means that the amount of progestin and estrogen in the 21 active Pills varies throughout the Pill-taking cycle to mimic your body’s natural hormonal cycle, giving you only the minimum amount of hormones necessary over the course of your cycle. Multi-phasic Pills have been developed to be more efficient and less prone to cause side effects such as breakthrough bleeding, spotting and amenorrhea (lack of a menstrual cycle). Ortho Tri-Cyclen is multi-phasic, tri-phasic in fact, thus its name (this means it has three different doses).
There are also progestin-only Pills, also known as the mini-Pill. They are formulated for women who cannot take estrogen (breast-feeding women for example). However, progestin-only Pills are not as effective at preventing pregnancy as Pills containing both estrogen and progestin.
See also Is Ortho Tri-Cyclen better than other Pill brands? .
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:: Is the Pill better than other methods of contraception?
The Pill is the most popular method of reversible contraception. Eight out of ten women use it at some point in their life. When used properly and consistently, the Pill is extremely effective and has many advantages over other forms of birth control, but there are some women for whom it is not appropriate.
The Pill is best suited for a woman who:
1. Has no problem remembering to take the Pill daily (every 24 hours) as required.
See How do I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen? .
2. Is not a heavy smoker. See Why should I not smoke while I’m on the Pill? .
3. Does not have any medical condition that would make it unsafe for her to take
the Pill. See Who should not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen? .
4. Does not take any medication that could interfere with the Pill’s effectiveness.
See What if I’m taking other medications?
5. Is sure that her partner or partners do not have sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), and is sure that she does not have STDs herself. The Pill does not
protect against STDs.
If you are not sure whether you or your partner(s) are free of any STDs, you should get tested. Meanwhile, the best practice is to use a condom (male or female condom), in addition to the Pill.
Keep in mind that combined hormone methods such as the Pill or the Patch also have many non-contraceptive benefits .
To help you compare and decide which form of birth control is best for you, ask yourself:
1. Does it suit your current lifestyle?
Your contraception needs may change throughout your life, depending on factors such as your current sex life (whether you have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases or not), if and how much you smoke, your current health status, or whether you decide to have children or not.
2. How convenient is it to use?
Some methods of birth control are more discrete and easier to use than others. Some methods require preliminary steps or planning before sex that can make the sexual encounter less spontaneous and be a turn-off for some women, while others might enjoy these preliminary steps as an important part of their sexual ritual. Some methods require a surgical procedure, an injection, or other intervention by a physician.
3. How well does it work?
While some forms of contraception are extremely effective and easier on your body, some have higher health risks and failure rates. Regardless of the contraception methods you choose, their success depends on you. Also, the most effective and appropriate methods can fail if you're not able to make a consistent, ongoing commitment to using them. For example, the daily Pill or the weekly patch may not be appropriate for you if you cannot remember to use them consistently.
4. Is it safe for you to use?
Some types of contraception might not be safe for you depending on your current sex life, your smoking habits, and your medical history.
5. Is it easily accessible and affordable?
Some methods of contraception might cost more since they require a medical procedure. Some methods are easily available over the counter, while others require a prescription. However, with the ability for doctors to prescribe and dispense medications through online pharmacies usually at lower prices, accessibility and affordability are less of an issue with oral contraceptives.
6. How reversible is it?
If you want to keep the ability to have children when you are ready, you should use a reversible method of contraception (versus permanent such as sterilization). With condoms, for example, all you need to do is stop using them. Same thing with the Pill or the Patch, however, some women may have to wait (in most cases about one or two months) in order for their body to resume having a regular period and be ready to be pregnant again.
7. Does it help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
Only condoms can help protect against STDs, because they form an actual physical barrier to protect from fluid exchange during sex.
Here is a brief description of different birth control options available to help you compare:
- The Pill: The daily Pill is a small tablet taken orally. It releases synthetic hormones that prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus, which helps block sperm from entering the uterus. You must remember to take your Pill everyday at the same time. With each 28-day cycle, for 21 days, you take active Pills, and depending on the brand, the 4th week is either Pill-free or you take 7 inactive reminder Pills, in order to have your period.
- The Patch: The weekly Patch has the same mechanism of action inside your body as the Pill. It is just delivered differently. A small Patch that you apply to your body (usually to your belly or lower back) continuously releases the hormones into your bloodstream through your skin. You must remember to apply it once a week for three consecutive weeks. The fourth week is patch-free, just like with Pills.
- The Ring also has the same mechanism of action inside your body as the Pill and the Patch. Delivery is different. A soft and flexible ring about 2 inches in diameter is inserted into the vagina where it continuously releases the hormones into your body. You must leave the ring inside your vagina for 3 weeks. Then you must remove it for one week during which you have your period, and then you start over again with a new ring.
- The male condom, a tube-like sheath closed at one end, is fitted over the erect penis before penetration. When ejaculation occurs, the semen collects inside the condom, preventing sperm to come in contact with the vagina. In addition to preventing pregnancy, condoms help protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
- The female condom is a lubricated plastic sheath with flexible rings on each end. The ring on one end is open and remains outside the vagina, covering part of the labia. The closed ring on the other end is placed in the vagina so that it covers the cervix, preventing sperm from entering the uterus. The sheath between the two rings forms a pouch to line the entire vaginal area. In addition to preventing pregnancy, condoms help protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Spermicides are non-hormonal chemical foams, creams, jellies, film or suppositories inserted into the vagina up to 15 minutes before intercourse. After intercourse, the spermicide has to remain in place for at least six to eight hours to ensure that all sperm are killed. The woman should not douche or rinse the vagina during this time. Spermicides kill sperm on contact and inhibit their movement up the vagina and into the cervix, preventing fertilization. Used alone, spermicides have a higher failure rate. They are therefore typically used together with a condom or diaphragm.
- The Diaphragm is a soft rubber, latex or silicone cup that requires initial fitting by a physician. You then insert it prior to having sex. When it is properly fitted and inserted, it covers the cervix and is held securely in place behind the pubic bone and the rear wall of your vagina, in order to prevent sperm from entering your cervical canal. Spermicides are applied to the diaphragm before insertion to kill sperm that may manage to go around the rim of the diaphragm.
- Injectables: Contraceptive injections have the same mechanism of action as the Pill or the Patch. Delivery is different. A physician injects the contraceptive into your arm, thigh or buttock at regular intervals (once a month for combination, and once every 3 months for progestin-only). Once injected, a low does of hormones is continuously released into your body.
- IUDs: IUD stands for Intra-Uterine Device, a small device placed in the uterus by a physician. The device is made of a soft, flexible plastic shaped like a T, the same shape as your uterus, and is about one-and-a-half inch long with two strings attached. An IUD prevents the fertilized egg from implanting inside your uterus.
- Implants are a long-term but reversible means of contraception. Matchstick-sized, hormone-containing capsules made of synthetic materials are surgically implanted in a woman's upper arm. Once in place, a low dose of hormones is continuously released into the body. The capsules must be removed and replaced every five years by a physician.
- Sterilization: For women, tubal sterilization (also known as "tying the tubes") involves closing both fallopian tubes in which the egg is fertilized by the sperm, by tying or sealing them with a ring, clip, or electric current, so that the eggs and sperm cannot come together. A non-surgical sterilization alternative involves the placement of a soft, flexible micro-insert into each fallopian tube through the woman's natural pathways. The male version of sterilization, the vasectomy, involves cutting and tying the vas deferens (the tubes that carry the sperm). Unlike the other forms of contraception, sterilization is considered permanent because operations attempting to reverse it do not always work.
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:: Why should I not smoke while I’m on the Pill?
* The package insert for the Pill warns: Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardio-vascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.
Early formulations of the Pill were associated with increased risk of cardio-vascular disease: poor blood circulation leading to heart disease and in its worse case resulting in blood clotting, which can cause a heart attack or a stroke. But today’s new low-dose Pills are much safer and more effective, and for most women have much less effect on blood clotting than the earlier pills.
Studies show that women who smoke around 10 cigarettes per day increase their risk of cardio-vascular disease by 30%. When you combine smoking and taking the pill, this risk is even higher. Research reveals that among women using the Pill, non-smokers have no additional risk of heart attack, light smokers (less than 15 cigarettes per day) are about 4 times more likely to have a heart attack, and heavy smokers (more than 15 cigarettes per day) are about 20 times more likely to have a heart attack. You risk of cardiovascular disease increases as you smoke more and as you get older.
If you are taking the Pill, you are strongly encouraged not to smoke. For most healthy women under 35 who smoke, the benefits of taking the Pill still outweigh the risks. However, if you are over 35 and smoke heavily, you should consider your risks very carefully, especially if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or other cardio-vascular problems that further increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
If you are over 35 and are smoking, talk to your healthcare provider about possibly using a lower-dose Pill. It has been suggested that very low dose Pills (20 µg ethinyl estradiol) may be safer for women over 35 who smoke. Lower dose Pills might however be less effective. Ideally, you should either not smoke while you are taking the Pill, or choose another method of birth control if you cannot stop smoking.
* If you would like to quit smoking, see our Zyban FAQ page. There, you will find useful information on how to stop smoking, links to useful sites, as well as our featured drug Zyban that can help you quit.
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:: What is Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Ortho Tri-Cyclen (Noregestimate/Ethinyl Estradiol) is a FDA-approved reversible oral contraceptive prescription drug for women who want to prevent becoming pregnant. It is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, based in Raritan, New Jersey.
Besides being an extremely effective and popular brand of contraceptive Pill, Ortho Tri-Cyclen is also clinically proven to help reduce acne and improve your skin, one among many of its non-contraceptive health benefits .
To buy Ortho Tri-Cyclen, go to our Ortho Tri-Cyclen price comparison page where you can select your preferred online US pharmacy with the lowest online Ortho Tri-Cyclen prices, no prior prescription required.
If it's your first time ordering Ortho Tri-Cyclen online, see our beginner’s guide , where the process of obtaining a prescription online and ordering your medication is explained.
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:: Is Ortho Tri-Cyclen better than other Pill brands?
No Pill can be rated as better than another. Today’s Pill brands have different formulations that are all equally effective in preventing pregnancy. But different formulations mean different potential side effects. Each individual responds differently to a medication. A certain brand’s formulation might be perfect for one woman while full of problems for another. You have to try a particular brand of Pill for yourself, and give it a fair trial of at least 3 months, because it might take about 2 months for your body to adjust to the hormones and for any potential side effects due to first-time use to go away.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen’s popularity may be in the fact that it is a mid-dose Pill, and therefore appropriate for most women. Ortho Tri-Cyclen’s hormone levels are low enough to prevent potential side effects, but high enough to provide you not only with an extremely high level of protection against pregnancy, but also with many of the long-term non-contraceptive benefits not available with low dose Pills.
One of the features that distinguishes Ortho Tri-Cyclen from other Pills is that it is tri-phasic, thus its name: Just like the natural levels of hormones in your body vary throughout your monthly cycle, so do the hormonal doses in the 28-day pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, delivering three dosages instead of just one. This dosage adjustment to your natural hormone variations means that you only get the lowest daily amount of hormones necessary to prevent pregnancy. This important feature has been developed to effectively minimize the risk of any side effects, such as spotting, mood swings, or others, that may occur from unnecessarily higher daily doses. It is also why it’s important that you take the Pills properly in the right order.
Whether multi-phasic is better than mono-phasic depends on a woman’s individual response. Some women benefit from it, while others cannot adjust to the dosage variations and do better with the one fixed dose of a mono-phasic Pill.
Most of the currently available birth control pills contain the same estrogen, Ethinyl Estradiol, but differ in the type of progestin. Progestins come in different potency and different androgenic activity.
Pills that cause you to have too light to almost no bleeding during your period are more likely to cause irregular bleeding (spotting and breakthrough bleeding) in between periods, which may bother you or interfere with intimacy. Ortho Tri-Cyclen, with 35 micrograms of estrogen compound Ethinyl Estradiol, 180/215/250 micrograms of new generation progestin Noregestimate with low androgenic activity, is considered a mid-dose Pill and has been formulated to allow for a lighter than usual but still stable and predictable menstrual flow during the cycle’s 4th week, therefore avoiding any breakthrough bleeding or spotting in between periods.
You are more likely to have a too light to almost no menstrual flow if you are on a very low (20 microgram) estrogen Pill with high progestin potency. Most women become worried when they have a too light to almost no menstrual bleeding, fearing it may mean they’re pregnant.
With Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you should not experience too light to almost no bleeding during your periods. In the rare case that you do, and the problem doesn’t go away after two months of proper use, it is usually recommended to switch to a higher estrogen Pill with lower progestin potency.
Also with Ortho Tri-Cyclen, once you are done with your period, and assuming you take your Pills properly, you should not experience any irregular bleeding in between your periods. In the rare case that you do, and the problem doesn’t go away after two months of proper use, it is usually recommended to switch to a Pill with higher estrogen, higher progestin, and lower androgen potency.
If before using the Pill you were used to experiencing severe menstrual cramps, and if taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen did not help reduce these cramps, it is usually recommended to switch to a Pill with higher progestin potency.
If you are already predisposed to acne and unwanted facial hair growth, Pills low in estrogen with high androgenic potency are likely to make your condition worse. Pills with higher estrogen dose and low androgenic potency, such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen, will help reduce your acne and unwanted facial hair. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is also unlikely to cause mood swings and depression, side effects more likely with higher progestin potency Pills.
Higher estrogen levels are more likely to cause headaches (other than menstrual migraines), water retention, breast soreness, weight gain, and high blood pressure. If you experience any of these side effects beyond your first two months of using Ortho Tri-Cyclen, then it is usually recommended to switch to a Pill with lower estrogen potency than Ortho Tri-Cyclen. On the other hand, keep in mind that the long-term non-contraceptive benefits of the Pill are associated with combination hormone Pills with at least 35 micrograms of estrogen, and are not found in low estrogen or progestin-only Pills.
Here are some suggestions of Pills to use or switch to depending on what side effect or problem your current Pill is causing:
- If you are experiencing acne, a Pill with higher estrogen and lower androgen potency is usually recommended, such as Othro-Tri Cyclen.
- If you are experiencing endometriosis, a Pill with lower estrogen, higher progestin potency and higher androgenic potency is usuallly recommended, such as
Loestrin 1.5/30 or
Nordette .
- If you are experiencing severe menstrual cramps, a Pill with higher progestin potency is usually recommended, such as Loestrin 1.5/30 .
- If you are experiencing breakthrough bleeding, a Pill with higher estrogen, higher progestin potency and lower androgenic potency than your current Pill is usually recommended.
- If you are experiencing absent or too light menstrual flow, a Pill with higher estrogen and lower progestin potency is recommended, such as Othro-Tri Cyclen.
- If you are experiencing moodiness, irritability, or depression, a Pill with lower progestin potency is usually recommended, such as Othro-Tri Cyclen, Triphasil , or Enpresse (generic Triphasil) .
- If you would like to reduce the frequency of your periods, consider taking Seasonale , a 91-day Pill that has been developed to allow women to reduce their periods to only four times a year. You take active Pills continuously for 12 weeks, followed by a 13th week of inactive Pills for having your period.
Also see the question: How do you use the Pill to postpone your period? .
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:: How does Ortho Tri-Cyclen work?
Once a month, during the most fertile stage of a woman’s cycle (around mid-cycle), a mature egg is released from a woman's ovary into the fallopian tube. This process is called ovulation. Once in the tube, the egg is ready to be fertilized by a man's sperm. While ovulation is occurring, the lining of the uterus begins to thicken in preparation to receive and nourish a potential fertilized egg.
The natural hormones produced by your body that trigger the above series of events are estrogen and progesterone.
Estrogen stimulates the growth and development of the uterus at puberty, causes the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) to thicken during the first half of the menstrual cycle, and influences breast tissue throughout life, but particularly from puberty to menopause.
Progesterone, which is produced during the last half of the menstrual cycle, prepares the endometrium to receive the egg. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone secretion continues, preventing release of additional eggs from the ovaries.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen is a combination Pill, as opposed to progestin-only Pills (Progestin is the name for synthetic progesterone). Combination Pills contain both estrogen and progestin, and are more effective than progestin-only Pills.
Here is how Ortho Tri-Cyclen works:
1. Preventing Ovulation:
The progestin component in Ortho Tri-Cyclen, called Noregestimate, prevents ovulation. No ovulation means no egg for the sperm to fertilize, which means no pregnancy. Preventing ovulation is the Pill’s main method of action and is most of the time sufficient in preventing pregnancy.
2. Preventing Fertilization:
Sometimes however, ovulation can still occur, especially when using Pills with lower doses of estrogen or when more than the required 24 hours are allowed to pass between two Pills. Therefore, to make sure you will not become pregnant, the progestin component also thickens the cervical mucus, forming a natural barrier to block the passage of sperm into the uterus, thus preventing sperm from reaching and fertilizing a potential released egg.
3. Preventing Implantation:
As a last precaution, in the rare case that even the barrier of mucus is not enough and the sperm does get through and does fertilize the egg, progestin also changes the cellular structure of the endometrium (uterine lining), thus preventing a potential fertilized egg from implanting (attaching) itself to the endometrium and further developing. Preventing implantation is a post-fertilization method, meaning that it prevents pregnancy after the egg has been fertilized by the sperm.
Together, these three levels of protection make the Pill extremely efficient in preventing pregnancy.
The estrogen component in Ortho Tri-Cyclen, called Ethinyl Estradiol, stabilizes the endometrium to minimize irregular bleeding, and also causes a decrease in androgenic hormone levels, thus reducing acne and unwanted facial hair.
One of the features that distinguishes Ortho Tri-Cyclen from other Pills is that it is tri-phasic, thus its name: Just like the natural levels of hormones in your body vary throughout your monthly cycle, so do the progestin doses in the 28-day pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen, delivering three dosages instead of just one. This dosage adjustment to your natural hormone variations means that you only get the lowest daily amount of progestin necessary to prevent pregnancy. This important feature effectively minimizes the risk of side effects, such as spotting, mood swings, or others, that may occur from unnecessarily higher daily doses. It is also why it’s important that you take the Pills properly in the right order.
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:: How well does Ortho Tri-Cyclen work?
The Pill works extremely well. Clinical trials (with women highly motivated to take their Pills properly and consistently) indicate that only 1 out of 1000 women becomes pregnant as a result of the Pill’s failure (0.1%). However, many women do not take their Pills properly. In actual use, when women who take their Pill incorrectly are included, the failure rate is 30 out of 1000 (3%).
Studies show that:
- Only 28% of women always take the Pill correctly.
- Only 42% take the Pill every day.
- At least 16% have pills left at the end of the month.
- About 33% of teen women missed a pill in a three-month period.
- About 17% do not take the pills in the right order.
If taken correctly and consistently, the Pill is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. Delaying the next Pill, missing two or more Pills in a row, or taking the Pills in the wrong order, can significantly reduce the Pill’s effectiveness. In actual use, when counting women who do not always take their Pill properly, the effectiveness drops to 97%.
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:: How safe is Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Today’s new generation low dose Pills (such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen) have been approved by the FDA to be very safe and effective.
If you are under 40, the potential health risks associated with pregnancy are much greater than the potential risks of taking the Pill (about twice as much for women aged 35 to 39).
If you are over 40, the potential health risks associated with pregnancy are about the same as the potential risks of taking the Pill (only slightly higher).
The Pill is not safe for you if you smoke heavily, are sedentary (physically inactive), are overweight, have high blood pressure, are diabetic, have an elevated cholesterol level, or have a history of or a predisposition to cardio-vascular disease. Also see Why should I not smoke while I’m on the Pill? . In some cases, even if the conditions above do apply to you, your healthcare provider may still decide that you should take the Pill provided close medical supervision.
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:: Who should not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
You should not take the Pill if you have:
- A history of heart attack or stroke
- Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
- A history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
- Chest pain (angina pectoris)
- Known or suspected cancer of the breast, lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding (until a diagnosis is reached by your doctor)
- Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of the pill
- Liver tumor (benign or cancerous)
- Known or suspected pregnancy
Only your healthcare provider can tell you for sure if you should or not take Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Inform your healthcare provider, during either a physical or online consultation, about all the medicines you are taking, prescription or over-the-counter, and about any medical conditions you have or have had, including allergies.
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:: What are Ortho Tri-Cyclen's non-contraceptive health benefits?
Many women are unaware of the non-contraceptive health benefits of birth control Pills. Keep in mind that most of these non-contraceptive benefits are associated with combination hormone Pills with at least 35 micrograms of estrogen (such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen), and are not found in low estrogen or progestin-only Pills.
For most women, birth control Pills reduce menstrual cramps, improve your menstrual pattern making your cycles more regular and predictable, and lighten blood flow. Less bleeding during your period means less loss of iron, making the occurrence of anemia due to iron deficiency less likely.
Combination oral contraceptives like Ortho Tri-Cyclen have been shown to provide some protection against developing breast and ovarian cysts or lumps, ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy inside the fallopian tube instead of the uterus), pelvic inflammatory disease (infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries), and certain cancers (ovarian, uterine, and possibly colorectal). Some doctors have suggested that early use of birth control Pills may help reduce the risk of breast cancer later in life, although the evidence on this is inconclusive.
Birth control Pills with at least 25 micrograms of estrogen have been found to help prevent bone density loss.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen’s formulation helps prevent acne and unwanted facial hair. For more, see How does Ortho Tri-Cyclen help eliminate acne? .
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:: How does Ortho Tri-Cyclen help eliminate acne?
Various brands of Pill have different formulations and dosages. Some cause acne, some don’t, and some like Ortho Tri-Cyclen actually help improve it.
If you are already predisposed to acne and unwanted facial hair growth, Pills low in estrogen with high androgenic potency are likely to make your condition worse. Ortho Tri-Cyclen, with 35 micrograms of estrogen and a new generation progestin with low androgenic potency, is clinically proven to improve acne and noticeably reduce unwanted facial hair, to help you maintain clearer skin.
It is the androgenic potency of a Pill’s progestin component that has the potential to cause acne and unwanted facial hair. Noregestimate, Ortho Tri-Cyclen’s progestin compound has a low androgenic potency. In addition, the estrogen in Ortho Tri-Cyclen is responsible for lowering the levels of free testosterone, the hormone that contributes to acne breakout and facial hair growth.
In clinical studies, nearly 9 out of 10 women who took Ortho Tri-Cyclen showed improvements in their skin. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is typically a good choice for women aged 15 and over with mild to moderate acne and who are unresponsive to topical acne medications, provided they have reached menstruation, desire birth control, and have no known symptoms or conditions that would prevent the use of combined hormone oral contraceptives.
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:: How is Ortho Tri-Cyclen supplied? What does it look like?
The Pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen, made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, comes as a pack of 28 round-shaped tablets inside a patented tablet dispenser called Dialpak. The Dialpak looks like a makeup compact, and is very discreet and convenient. The 28-day packs are also separately available as refills that you can insert into your existing Dialpak.
Inside each 28-day pack, there are:
- seven white tablets with the imprint Ortho 180, containing 180 micrograms
of Noregestimate and 35 micrograms of Ethinyl Estradiol.
- seven light blue tablets
with the imprint Ortho 215, containing 215 micrograms
of Noregestimate and 35 micrograms of Ethinyl Estradiol.
- seven blue tablets with
the imprint Ortho 250, containing 250 micrograms
of Noregestimate and 35 micrograms of Ethinyl Estradiol.
- seven green tablets with the imprint Ortho containing inactive ingredients (these are the reminder pills).
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:: What should I know before I start taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
The Dialpak tablet dispenser makes it very easy and convenient to take your Pills once a day, on time and in the proper order. It is labeled with the days of the week, so you'll know exactly which pill to take each day.
During the first 3 weeks of your Pill-taking cycle, you take active Pills (white, light blue, and blue pills, 1 through 21). During the 4th week, you take the inactive reminder Pills (green pills 22 through 28). During the 4th week is when you have your period.
Try as best as you can to establish a daily routine so as to not miss a Pill. Taking your Pills at regular 24-hour intervals will keep you protected against pregnancy, while ensuring stability in your body and minimizing the risk of side effects such as spotting.
It is usually considered on time, if you take your Pill within 2 to 4 hours of your daily scheduled time.
Keep in mind that during the first two months of Pill taking (first two packs), some women may feel sick to their stomach, or experience spotting (very light bleeding) or breakthrough bleeding (enough bleeding to need a pad or tampon). If you experience any of these problems, do not stop taking your Pill and continue with your usual schedule. The problems will go away by the third month or sooner as your body gets used to the Pill. If the problems don’t go away, check with your clinician before giving up the Pill.
Also keep in mind that in order to stay protected against pregnancy, you must take the Pill every 24 hours even if you do not have sex very often.
When you finish all 28 Pills in a pack, start the next pack the following day. Do not wait any days between packs.
In order to make sure you won’t miss any Pills or delay between packs, obtain refills before your supply runs out. Also, it’s a good idea to always have a backup pack, so that for example, if you vomit or have diarrhea right after taking your Pill, you can take a replacement not from the same pack but from the backup pack, as explained in question: What if I throw up or have diarrhea after taking the Pill?
Store your Ortho Tri-Cyclen pills at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Keep Ortho Tr-Cyclen and all other medications out of the reach of children.
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:: How do I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
If this is the first time you are taking birth control pills, or if you have not taken birth control pills for 10 days or more, your first step is to wait until your period starts. You have a choice of which day to start taking your first Pill. You can take the first Pill either on the day your period starts (Day 1 start), or on the first Sunday after the day your period starts (Sunday start).
The Sunday start is better for women who prefer having their period during the week so that, by the weekend, the bleeding has stopped. If that is not a concern for you, then a Day 1 start may induce faster and more complete ovarian suppression and is recommended for more effective contraception. Sometimes, your healthcare provider will decide which start method is best for you.
After you decide which start method you prefer, pick a time of day that will be convenient and easy for you to remember to take your Pill.
1. This step depends on whether you are a Sunday starter or a Day 1 starter:
Sunday start:
You will take Pill 1 on the first Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on a Sunday, take Pill 1 that same day (not the following Sunday), and follow the instructions for Day 1 start.
The Dialpak comes preset for a Sunday start. If not, turn the dial on your empty Dialpak until the arrow points to SU (Sunday).
* Remember: If this is the first time you are using the Pill, or if you have not taken the Pill for 10 days or more, you must use another method of birth control (such as a condom) as backup when you have sex during the first 7 days of Pill-taking (anytime from the Sunday you start your first Pill until the next Sunday). After 7 days, Pill protection will begin and continue for as long as the Pill is taken on time and everyday. You do not have to do this on the following months, as long as you continue to stay on the Pill.
Day 1 start:
You will take Pill 1 on the day your period starts.
Turn the dial on your empty Dialpak until the arrow points to the first day of your period (if your period starts on a Tuesday, the arrow will point to TU).
* Remember: With a Day 1 start, you are protected as soon as you start taking the Pill. You will not need to use a backup method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period, during which you are protected against pregnancy.
The following steps are the same for either Day 1 start or Sunday start:
2. Insert the new refill by lining up the V shape on the refill with the V shape at the top of your Dialpak. Snap the refill in place. The arrow should be pointing to Pill 1.
3. Remove Pill 1 by pushing down on the pill. The pill will come out through a hole in the back of the Dialpak. Take Pill 1.
4. Wait 24 hours to take your next pill. When it’s time, turn the dial on your Dialpak to the next day, the arrow is now pointing to Pill 2. Remove and take Pill 2.
5. Continue to take one Pill every 24 hours until all the pills in the pack have been taken.
6. When your refill is empty, you can keep and reuse your Dialpak. After Pill 28, you will start a new pack the next day with Pill 1 from your new refill. Turn the dial to the Pill 1 position, remove the empty pack, and replace with the new pack. The first Pill in every refill will always be taken on the same day of the week, no matter when your period starts.
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:: Is there a particular time of day that is better for taking my Pill?
Not really. The best is to choose a time that's convenient and easy for you to remember. Some women may occasionally feel sick to their stomach during their first two months of taking the Pill. If this happens to you, taking the Pill at night just before sleep will help, as the hormones will become active while you sleep.
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:: Am I protected from getting pregnant as soon as I take the Pill?
If you choose a Day 1 start, you are protected as soon as you start taking the Pill. You will not need to use a backup method of birth control, since you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period, during which you are protected against pregnancy.
If you choose a Sunday start, then, if this is the first time you are using the Pill, or if you have not taken the Pill for 10 days or more, you must use another method of birth control (such as a condom) as backup when you have sex during the first 7 days of Pill-taking (anytime from the Sunday you start your first Pill until the next Sunday). After 7 days, Pill protection will begin and continue for as long as the Pill is taken on time and everyday. You do not have to use a backup method again on the following months, as long as you continue to stay on the Pill.
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:: Am I still protected from getting pregnant even when I’m taking
the inactive green pills?
Yes. As long as you have taken your active pills correctly (at the same time, every day), you are protected from pregnancies even when you are taking the inactive green pills in the fourth week of your Ortho Tri-Cyclen cycle.
The reason for the inactive pills is so that you can have a hormone-free week during which you have your period. You cannot become pregnant while you are having your period.
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:: Can I start the Pill on a day other than the first day of my period
or the following Sunday?
You can, but unless you know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t. To make sure that you are protected against pregnancy at all times, it is recommended that you choose either a Sunday start or a Day 1 start when beginning a new birth control pill, unless your doctor says otherwise. See How do I take Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
One reason for starting the Pill on a different day than the first day of your period or the Sunday after, may be that you wish to use the Pill to manipulate the timing of your period. If this interests you, it is best to talk to your clinician. For more on this, read: How do you use the Pill to postpone your period?
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:: How do I switch from another Pill brand to Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
If you are unhappy with your current brand of birth control Pills, switching to Ortho Tri-Cyclen is easy. Make sure to complete your current 28-day cycle by continuing to use your existing brand until the pack is empty. Then when it’s time to start a new pack, simply start a pack of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Pills instead of your previous brand.
Be aware that depending on the brand of your previous Pills, a 28-day cycle might be either a pack of 28 Pills (21 active and 7 inactive, just like Ortho Tri-Cyclen), or a pack of 21 active Pills only. With packs of 21 Pills, there are no reminder Pills, so before switching to Ortho Tri-Cyclen, make sure to still complete the 28-day cycle which is 21 days of Pill-taking and 7 Pill-free days.
Also, if you are a Day 1 starter and if you follow the above instructions carefully, then you will maintain a continuous level of protection and you will not need backup contraception when switching to Ortho Tri-Cyclen. However, if you are Sunday starter, then just as if you were a first-time Pill user, you must use backup contraception for 7 days after the switch to Ortho Tri-Cyclen, as your body gets used to the new formulation and dosage of Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
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:: How long can I stay on the Pill? Is it true that it’s necessary to
take a break from using the Pill?
If you have been on the Pill and you are happy with it, you can stay on it for as long as you want, provided that your health status and habits don’t change in a way that would make the Pill unsafe for you. In that case, the only reason why you would need to interrupt your Pill-taking routine is if you have decided that you want to become pregnant.
Actually, you are already taking breaks from the Pill on a regular basis. Every 28-day Pill cycle includes the last 7-days of inactive Pills. This monthly 7-day break allows you to have your period. In fact, some women choose not to take this 7-day break once a month as directed, but once every 2, 3, or even more months. By continuously taking active Pills everyday, they are able to postpone their period. See: How do you use the Pill to postpone your period?
With today’s new generation low dose Pills, women are staying on the Pill for as long as they want. Talk to your doctor about it. Provided that you do not smoke and remain healthy, there is no medical reason for you to need a long-term break from the Pill.
If you stop taking the Pill, on top of being unprotected from becoming pregnant, you are missing all of the Pill’s non-contraceptive benefits. This is why you should stay on the Pill, even if at a certain point in your life, you stop being sexually active for a while.
Also keep in mind: Some women experience unpleasant side effects when they first start using the Pill. These side effects should go away with continued use as your hormone levels stabilize. Taking a break and restarting may cause your body to have to go through these initial side effects again.
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:: What if I miss a dose?
The Pills in your Ortho Tri-Cyclen refill are numbered 1 through 28. Look at the number of the Pill or Pills that you missed, and use the following table:
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If you miss one Pill (Pills 1 through 21)
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Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next Pill at the usual time. (This means you may take two Pills in one day.) Finish that series and start the next pack on time. You will not need a backup method of birth control if you have sex.
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If you miss two Pills in a row in the first two weeks (Pills 1 through 14)
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Take two Pills on the day you remember. Take two Pills again on the next day. Then, take one Pill every day as usual until the pack is finished. Use a backup method for seven days after the day you missed the Pills. Call your clinician if you do not get your period.
For example, if you missed Pills 5 and 6 (which means today is day 7, the day you would normally take Pill 7), then take both Pills 5 and 6 today (day 7), and take both Pills 7 and 8 tomorrow (day 8). This way, on day 9, you will be back to your normal schedule with Pill 9.
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If you miss Pills 14 and 15
or
If you miss two Pills in a row in the third week (Pills 15 through 21)
or
If you miss three or more Pills in a row during the first three weeks (Pills 1 through 21)
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Sunday starters: Take one active Pill every day until the next Sunday. On Sunday, start a new pack. Use backup contraception for seven days. You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. Call your clinician if you do not get your period two months in a row.
Day 1 starters: On the day you remember, start a new pack. Use backup contraception method for seven days. You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. Call your clinician if you do not get your period two months in a row.
* Sometimes, especially during the third week, if you miss three or more active Pills, your period might start prematurely. If this happens, then it is best to not take any Pills, let your period proceed and start a new pack seven days after the first missed Pill.
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If you miss any of the green Pills in the fourth week (Pills 22 through 28)
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Throw away the Pills you missed and continue with the remaining Pills on schedule until the pack is empty. Start the next pack on time. The green Pills are reminder Pills and do not contain active ingredients.
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If you are still not sure what to do about the Pills you have missed
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Use backup contraception and take one active Pill each day until you can talk with your clinician.
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When you need to start a new pack as a result of missing two or more Pills in a row, don’t throw away your old pack. Keep it as backup pack.
Missing Pills or delaying the next Pill can cause spotting or light bleeding, even if you make up for the missed Pills. You also may feel a little sick to your stomach when you take two Pills to make up for missed Pills.
If you have unprotected sex during a time when you have forgotten to take your Pills, you might want to consider the Emergency Contraception Pill or Morning-After Pill. Go to question about Emergency Contraception Pill .
Sometimes, especially after missing two or more Pills during a cycle, you may not have your usual 4th week period. To learn more, see: If I miss a period while on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, does it mean I’m pregnant? .
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:: Can I become pregnant if I miss just one Pill?
The Pill has a 0.1% failure rate with perfect use, and 3% failure rate when including women who don't always take it properly. If you miss only one Pill, and you make up for it as explained in question What if I miss a dose? , then you don’t have to worry, as this does not significantly increase the risk of pregnancy.
But why take chances? Making a habit of taking your Pills always on time will also ensure stability in your body and minimize the risk of side effects such as spotting. It is usually considered on time, if you take your Pill within 2 to 4 hours of your daily scheduled time.
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:: What if after missing two or more active Pills, I forgot to use a
backup method and I had unprotected sex?
If you forget to use a backup method and you believe you had unprotected sex after missing two or more active Pills, consider using an Emergency Contraception Pill (ECP), also known as the Morning-After Pill.
The Morning-After Pill has been approved by the FDA for preventing pregnancy within 72 hours of having unprotected sex, in case either no standard contraceptive method was used, or in case the standard method of contraception used failed.
Just like birth control Pills, Emergency control Pills use hormones to delay or suppress ovulation, or by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting itself to the endometrium (uterine lining), but whereas birth control Pills deliver continuous low daily doses of hormones, ECPs deliver a quick high-dose burst of hormones which for the short-term disrupts hormone patterns needed for pregnancy. Also just like birth control Pills, ECPs are ineffective once the fertilized egg has had time to implant, and that is why they must be taken early, within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Emergency contraception Pills and are not intended or safe to be used on a regular basis, but only as a last resort after standard methods such as birth control Pills or condoms have failed. Talk to your clinician about obtaining ECPs so you’ll have some on hand in case you need them.
For more about ECPs, visit www.NOT-2-LATE.com .
* Note: You may have heard that taking several standard birth control Pills at once can have the same effect as taking the Emergency Contraception Pill. This is not always true and can be unsafe. The only case when you should do this is if your doctor has specifically told you when and how to do it depending on what brand you are using. Emergency contraceptive Pills must be taken properly in order to work. Timing is very important and different brands come with different dosages and instructions.
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:: If I miss a period while on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, does it mean I’m
pregnant?
If you have taken all of your Pills on time, then a missed period on Ortho Tri-Cyclen is unusual and you should see your clinician to make sure you are not pregnant. The reason why this is unusual is that Ortho Tri-Cyclen has been formulated to allow for a regular period during the cycle’s 4th week.
On the other hand, if you have missed two or more Pills during a cycle and followed the instructions in question What if I miss a dose? , then, since you had to alter your usual pill schedule to make up for the skipped Pills, a missed period should be expected for that cycle, and does not mean you are pregnant. You should inform your clinician and wait until your next period. If you do not get your period two months in a row, call your clinician, and do not continue to take the Pill until you are sure you are not pregnant. Meanwhile, use another method of contraception.
Keep in mind that a missed period means no bleeding at all. A very light period, even a few drops, while less likely with Ortho Tri-Cyclen, is still considered a period. Birth control pills usually decrease the amount of endometrium tissue formed each month thus decreasing menstrual flow. Some decrease it more than others.
You are more likely to have a too light to almost no menstrual flow if you are on a Pill with lower estrogen and higher progestin potency than Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Still, if it does happen to you, and the problem doesn’t go away after the first two months of proper use, it is usually recommended to switch to a Pill with higher estrogen and lower progestin potency than Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
In very rare cases, a very light period can be associated with a pregnancy. Consider taking a home pregnancy test to make sure that the missed or very light period is due to decreased tissue formation and not to pregnancy. If still in doubt, talk to your clinician.
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:: In case I do become pregnant, will I abort the fetus if I continue
to take the Pill?
No. Birth Control Pills cannot be used to induce chemical abortion. Birth control Pills (as well as Emergency Contraception Pills) are for preventing pregnancy before it happens. Once the fertilized egg has implanted, the Pill is no longer effective in preventing pregnancy. Extensive research has confirmed that continuing to take the Pill after the egg has already implanted will not abort the fetus.
If you know or think that you are pregnant, stop taking your birth control Pills and call your clinician, and do not continue to take the Pill until you are sure you are not pregnant. Meanwhile, use another method of contraception. Using oral contraceptives while pregnant may increase the risk of having an ectopic pregnancy, a potentially life-threatening condition where the fertilized egg begins to develop in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus.
If you had unprotected sex after missing two or more active Pills, and are worried that you might get pregnant, consider taking an Emergency Contraception Pill, or Morning-After Pill, within 72 hours after unprotected sex. For more about the ECP, Go to question about Emergency Contraception Pill .
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:: What are the risks to the fetus if I decide to go on with my
pregnancy?
There is no clinical evidence that the unintentional use of oral contraceptives during early pregnancy can cause harm to the fetus. In the past, a few studies had reported that oral contraceptives might be associated with birth defects, but these findings were inconclusive and have not been seen in more recent studies.
Even so, it is a good rule that you should not use any medications (including oral contraceptives) during your pregnancy unless clearly necessary and prescribed by your doctor.
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:: What are the possible side effects of Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Spotting (very light bleeding, sometimes a few drops) or breakthrough bleeding (enough bleeding to need a pad or tampon) may happen while you are taking the Pill, especially during the first two months of Pill taking. If this happens, it is important that you do not stop taking the Pill and continue with your usual schedule. The problems will go away by the third month or sooner as your body gets used to the Pill. If the problems do not go away, check with your clinician before giving up the Pill.
Ortho Tri-Cyclen may cause fluid retention, which in turn may temporarily cause a slight but noticeable swelling of the fingers, breasts, or ankles and may raise your blood pressure. If you wear contact lenses, you may experience discomfort with them and notice a change in your vision. Contact your clinician.
You may experience areas of hyperpigmentation on your face in the form of darker skin spots. This condition, also known as chloasma or melasma, can be caused by sun exposure, family history, and estrogen levels associated with either a pregnancy or use of birth control Pills. Additional exposure to the sun can worsen this condition. Use of a sunscreen (at least SPF 15) is recommended. You may also consider a topical cream containing a bleaching agent such as hydroquinone, or tretinoin such as Renova . With some women, this skin condition may persist even after discontinuing the Pill.
Other possible side effects include nausea and vomiting, change in appetite, headache (other than menstrual migraines), breast soreness, weight gain or loss, moodiness, depression. Contact your clinician immediately if you experience sharp or crushing chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, sudden severe headache or leg pain, yellow skin or eyes, changes in vision, numbness of an arm or leg, or severe stomach pain.
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:: What if I feel sick to my stomach after taking the Pill?
Some women may occasionally feel sick to their stomach after taking their Pill. This is more likely to happen if you are a first time user, if you had to take two Pills to make up for a missed one, or if you are using a high estrogen Pill. If you experience occasional nausea during the first two months of Pill use, it is important that you do not stop taking your Pills.
Continue with your normal schedule, as these feelings will go away as your body gets used to the Pill. Taking the Pill at night just before sleep will help, as the hormones will become active while you sleep.
If the feelings of nausea are too frequent and intolerable, you may have hypersensitivity to estrogen, and a low estrogen or progestin-only Pill may be more appropriate for you. Check with your clinician for a possible remedy before giving up the Pill.
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:: What if I throw up or have diarrhea after taking the Pill?
* You should always keep an extra pack of Pills on hand, in case you need to take a backup Pill.
Throwing up or having diarrhea less than two hours after taking an active Pill (1 through 21) can decrease your Pill’s effectiveness. (After two hours, you have had enough time to digest the Pill and the hormones have become active inside your body, so there is nothing to worry about.)
Here is what to do: Let’s say for example that you take Pill number 11, and before two hours have passed, you throw up or have diarrhea, then your body was not allowed enough time to digest the Pill and you must take a backup for it. Do not take the next Pill (number 12) from your main pack. Instead, take Pill number 11 from your backup pack. This way, you won’t disrupt the order in which you always take your Pills.
If you are sick and keep throwing up or having diarrhea for an entire day or more, then your Pills may be less effective. Try your best to stay on track with taking your Pills. Until the day that you’re no longer sick, and for seven more days after that, you should use a backup method of contraception when having sex.
Keep in mind that this is only relevant during the first three weeks of your Pill taking cycle, while you are taking the active Pills. If it happens during the fourth week while you are taking the inactive green Pills (22 through 28), then there is no problem, you don’t need to take another Pill or use backup protection. Just continue taking your reminder Pills once a day, and start the next pack as normal.
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:: What If I have irregular bleeding in between periods?
If this is your first time taking the Pill, then you should not worry as some irregular bleeding between periods is common with first time Pill users, especially during the first two months of Pill taking. If this happens, it is important that you do not stop taking the Pill and continue with your usual schedule. The problems will go away by the third month or sooner as your body gets used to the Pill.
Irregular bleeding between periods may be due to missed or late Pills. Make sure you are taking your Pills everyday, on time. It is usually considered on time, if you take your Pill within 2 to 4 hours of your daily scheduled time.
Irregular bleeding is more likely to happen when taking low estrogen or progestin-only Pills and very unlikely with a mid-dose estrogen Pill such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Sometimes however, even if you always take your Pills on time, and even if you’ve been continuously taking the Pill for a long time with no problems, irregular bleeding may still start happening. If it does, rather than give up the Pill or switch brands, check with your clinician for a remedy. For some women, stopping the Pill for a month to have a natural cycle of withdrawal bleeding and then resuming the Pill as before may work stop the irregular bleedings. Another solution may be to take an estrogen supplement with your Pill, to help stabilize your periods and minimize irregular bleeding. Talk about this with your clinician.
Taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C a day increases the amount of estrogen absorbed by your body by 50 percent. This can have the same effect as taking an estrogen supplement. For women who experience irregular bleeding, taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C at the time of taking the Pill for a week can actually help suppress irregular bleeding.
On the other hand, if you usually take large amounts of vitamin C on a regular basis, then stopping your vitamin C intake will cause a drop in the estrogen levels your body is used to and may be the cause of the irregular bleeding you are experiencing. If you are used to taking more than 100 milligrams of vitamin C daily, it is recommended that you take your vitamin C at least four hours before or after taking your Pill.
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:: What if I’m taking other medications?
Some medications may interfere with Ortho Tri-Cyclen’s effectiveness in preventing pregnancy or cause breakthrough bleeding. They do this by mainly decreasing your ability to absorb the estrogen component of the Pill. While taking such medications concurrently with Ortho Tri-Cyclen, you are advised to use a backup method of birth control, not just until you are done taking that medication, but during the remaining of that Pill cycle (until your menstrual period). Do not stop taking your Pill. It's better to continue taking the Pill and use a backup method while taking the other medication, than stopping the Pill while taking the other medication and restarting the Pill at the next cycle. Stopping and restarting the Pill is likely to cause unnecessary instability in your body, increasing the potential for adverse effects.
Drugs that can lower Ortho Tri-Cyclen's effectiveness include rifampin (Rifadin), barbiturates like amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton), anticonvulsants such as topiramate (Topamax), carbamazepine (Tegretol), griseofulvin (Grisactin, Grifulvin V, Fulvicin PG), phenytoin (Dilantin), phenylbutazone (Butazolidin), HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, ritonavir), azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole), St John’s Wort, and possibly some antibiotics (penicillin, ampicillin, tetracyclines).
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid): While most drugs that interact with birth control pills tend to decrease the amount of estrogen absorbed by your body thus reducing effectiveness, vitamin C does the opposite. Taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C a day will increase the amount of estrogen absorbed by your body by 50 percent. For most women, this is not a problem. For women who experience spotting, taking 1000 milligrams of vitamin C at the time of taking the Pill for a week can actually help suppress spotting. On the other hand, if you usually take large amounts of vitamin C on a regular basis, then stopping your vitamin C intake may cause a drop in the estrogen levels your body is used to and cause you to experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding. If you are used to taking more than 100 milligrams of vitamin C daily, it is recommended that you take your vitamin C at least four hours before or after taking your Pill.
Other drugs not listed here may also interact with Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Your healthcare provider can best answer whether or not a drug you are taking will interact with Ortho Tri-Cyclen. It's important to inform your healthcare provider, during either a physical or online consultation, about any medicines you take, both prescription and nonprescription, and about any hypersensitivity or allergies you might have (especially to medications).
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:: What else should I know about Ortho Tri-Cyclen?
Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not give birth control pills to your friends as a method of prevention. Do not accept birth control pills from others. The Pill is only effective if taken regularly everyday, for at least a week. Taking just one Pill won’t work. If you need emergency contraception information, see: In case I do become pregnant, will I abort the fetus if I continue to take the Pill? .
If you have been taking the Pill, and you are planning on getting pregnant soon, see: What If I'm ready to become pregnant? .
If you just had a baby or if you are nursing, and you want to resume taking the Pill, see: Can I resume taking the Pill after I have a baby? .
The Pill can affect the results of certain lab tests (blood tests such as glucose, clotting factors, or thyroid). Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know that you take this product.
Before you have any medical or dental treatments, emergency care, or surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using the Pill.
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects from oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke. See: Why should I not smoke while I’m on the Pill? .
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:: How does the Pill affect the risk of cancer?
There is no conclusive evidence that the Pill causes cancer. On the other hand, the Pill has been found to help prevent certain types of cancer.
uterine and ovarian cancer
A study conducted by the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) as well as other studies have found that the Pill helps protect against uterine and ovarian cancer. The studies show that the risk of these cancers is lower for women who use or have used the Pill for a longer time (40 percent less risk after 1 year of use, and 80 percent less risk after 10 years of use). The protection lasts at least 15 years is most likely to persist for a lifetime. Researchers estimate that the Pill prevents more than 1700 cases of ovarian cancer in the US each year.
colorectal cancer
Studies also show that women who use the Pill for at least 2 years are half as likely to get colorectal cancer as non-users. Colorectal cancer is the 5th most common cancer among women.
cervical cancer
Some studies have suggested a link between long-term Pill usage (10 years or more) and a slight increased risk of cervical cancer. However, these findings are inconclusive because differences in sexual behavior among women make it difficult for researchers to de | |
