Levora

FAQ

• What is Levora Birth Control?

  Levora-28 is a combination birth control pill that often helps make periods lighter, less painful, and more regular. In every pack of Levora-28, there are 21 active pills that contain a mix of estrogen and progestin. There are also seven inactive or “reminder” pills. These don’t contain any hormones, but it’s a good idea to take them anyway to stay on track.

• How Do Combination Pills Work?

  In a nutshell, a combination pill is any type of oral contraceptive that contains both estrogen and progestin. It works on three separate fronts to prevent pregnancy.

  First, the pill prevents ovulation — the process where one of your ovaries releases an egg each month. It also thickens your cervical mucus, which makes it harder for sperm to swim to the egg. At the same time, it thins the lining of your uterus. In the unlikely event that an egg is released and fertilized, it’s difficult for it to attach to the thinned lining.

  Combination pills are often prescribed to help create shorter, lighter, and more regular cycles. They can also make periods less painful and reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

• How Effective is Levora?

  Like all forms of oral contraceptives, Levora birth control is extremely effective for preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives are 99 percent effective with perfect use and 91 percent effective with “typical” use.

  If you begin taking Levora within five days of starting your period, you’ll be protected right away. If you start at any other point in your cycle, you should use another contraceptive method for seven days.

  If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember. If you miss two or more pills in a pack, use a backup method (such as condoms) for seven days. You should also use a backup method if you start your new pack late (by 48 hours or more).

  Certain medications can make oral contraceptives less effective. HIV drugs, anti-seizure medications, Rifampin, Griseofulvin, and St. John’s Wort can all interact with the pill. Make sure your doctor is familiar with any other prescriptions you’re taking so he or she can make sure you’re protected.

  As with all oral contraceptives, Levora birth control does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You can reduce your risk of contracting or transmitting an STI by using a latex or polyurethane condom every time you have sex.

• How Much Does Levora Birth Control Cost?

  If you have insurance, our team at Nurx may be able to prescribe Levora at no cost to you. If you don’t have insurance our medical team can prescribe Levora for as little as $15 a month.

• Can I Use Levora to Skip My Period?

  Yes. It’s safe to skip your period on a combination birth control pill like Levora. In fact, the bleeding you experience on the pill isn’t actually a period at all. It’s called a withdrawal bleed. The withdrawal bleed is a built-in feature of the pill, but it’s not strictly necessarily from a health standpoint.

  When birth-control pills were first introduced, researchers concluded that women could use the pill continuously without any major risks. However, pill packs were designed to mimic a natural 28-day menstrual cycle to make the pill more socially acceptable. Getting a withdrawal bleed also indicates that you’re not pregnant. This is why most combination pill packs contain seven “reminder” or placebo pills — to trigger the withdrawal bleed.

  To skip your period on Levora birth control, simply start a new pack instead of taking the reminder pills. The main drawback to skipping your period for months at a time is that you may experience breakthrough bleeding. This happens when your uterus sheds some of its lining. While often inconvenient, it's completely normal. To reduce breakthrough bleeding, some women find it useful to take a week of placebo pills and have a period every three months.

• What Are the Side Effects of Taking Levora?

  The most common side effects for oral contraceptives are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and breast tenderness. You may also experience a change in flow and certain women experience a difficulty wearing contact lenses. These side effects typically go away after 3 months of contraceptive use.

  Birth control pills have also been shown to affect your body’s ability to absorb and utilize certain key nutrients. Long-term use can lead to a depletion of B6, B12, folic acid, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc.

• Are There Any Serious Risks?

  Like other oral contraceptives, Levora birth control increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke in certain women. Serious blood clots are more likely for women over the age of 35 and for people who are obese or smoke. You shouldn’t take Levora if you have severe diabetes, heart problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or if you’ve had breast cancer.

  Choosing the right birth control can feel confusing. Sometimes you have to try a few before you find one that works for your body. If you’re trying to decide what type of birth control is right for you, contact a member of our medical team here at Nurx for additional information.