Ortho-Cyclen

Ortho-Cyclen will not immediately stop your period. If your period stops within a month or two of taking Ortho-Cyclen, you may be pregnant — especially if you skip a pill. However, over time, your period may become thinner and lighter to the point where it is reduced to light spotting each month.

Ortho-Cyclen and other birth control pills have been known to increase weight in many women. However, the majority of this weight gain comes from water retention, not fat. Women who want to reduce the effects of weight gain should avoid caffeine, alcohol, and salt.

Before starting Ortho-Cyclen or other birth control pills, let your doctor know if you have any allergies or are taking other medications. This pill can mix with other medications and cause severe side effects or reduce the effectiveness of other medications.

The side effects of Ortho-Cyclen are similar to those of most other birth control pills. You may experience symptoms such as moodiness, headaches, nausea, bleeding in-between periods, or breast tenderness and swelling. These may pass after a few months on the pill; however, tell your doctor if they persist or get worse. There are other options out there. You should stop taking Ortho-Cyclen immediately if you experience serious side effects like:

• Sudden dizziness or fainting
• Pain or swelling in the groin
• Chest, arm, or jaw pain
• Slurred speech
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Significant depression or anxiety

Ortho-Cyclen is most effective when you take the pill every day at the same time each day. Skipping even one day can increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you don't think you can stick to this schedule, talk to your doctor, and they can find a form of birth control that works for you. Vomiting or diarrhea can also reduce the effectiveness of your birth control pills. If you get sick a few hours after taking the pill, it might not be effective. In this case, use backup birth control (such as condoms) for the next day or two. You should also continue to use condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections (such as HIV and chlamydia) if you or your partner have not been tested recently. Like most oral contraceptives, Ortho-Cyclen is not effective against preventing STIs and should not be used to do so.  

Start by asking your doctor about Ortho-Cyclen to see if he or she recommends a prescription based on your needs. Once your doctor recommends Ortho-Cyclen, you can pick it up at your local pharmacy. Ortho-Cyclen is a fairly common pill, which means it will likely be covered under your health insurance. If you do pay out of pocket, most pharmacies charge $9-$25 per packet. Ortho-Cyclen also has multiple generic options. Check your local pharmacy for Sprintec, MonoNessa, Estarylla, Previfem, or Mono-Linyah, to name a few. If you can't find generic options and don't have health insurance, don't sweat! We can help you find affordable birth control options and make sure you get the pills you need.

Ortho-Cyclen uses the chemicals Norgestimate and Ethinyl estradiol to prevent pregnancy. Like most 28-day birth control pills, Ortho-Cyclen works in three ways:

• It prevents ovulation, so there's no egg to fertilize.
• It thickens the vaginal fluid to block sperm from reaching the egg.
• It thickens the uterine lining, so if sperm is able to fertilize an egg, it won't be able to attach to the wall and start to grow.