As with any form of hormonal birth control, some women may experience side effects when taking Apri. Most of these side effects are generally rare, and those that do appear tend to weaken or go away after several months of continuous usage. Still, it’s important for you to know what you might potentially notice once you start taking Apri:
- Headaches.
- Breast tenderness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Weight gain or loss.
- Fluid retention.
- Vaginal bleeding between periods.
- Bloating.
- Raised blood pressure.
In addition, there are a number of other drugs that, when taken in combination in Apri, increase your risk of becoming pregnant, including:
- Certain seizure medications
- HIV drugs
- Barbiturates
- St. John’s Wort
- Rifampin or rifabutin
- Modafinil
- Griseofulvin
Always consult with your doctor first regarding the interactions that your existing medications may have with your birth control.
In very rare cases, Apri can have an impact on a woman’s blood flow, increasing the chance of blood clots, heart attacks, or stroke. While only a small fraction of women are at risk of these things occurring, women who are advised to avoid estrogen should not take Apri. In particular, women who are over the age of 35 and smoke should look for forms of birth control that do not contain estrogen, such as the shot or the minipill.
Nurx offers over 100 different birth control brands and methods for women to choose from. While it’s great to have that much choice at your disposal, it can also be overwhelming to try and distinguish between all of your options. If you’re hoping to find a new method of birth control but don’t know where to start, answer some questions from a Nurx provider to get recommendations customized to you.