Brevicon Description

Brevicon is a combination birth control pill that contains both a progestin called Norethindrone, and an estrogen called Ethinyl Estradiol. Oral contraceptives can help you avoid an unplanned pregnancy until you are ready to begin your family. Brevicon offers the 21 day pack where you will take no pills after day 21 for the next 7 days, or a 28 day pack that contains 21 days of pills with the hormones and 7 days of “reminder” pills with no hormones. Some women prefer the 28 day Brevicon so they become accustomed to taking a pill on a daily basis leaving a smaller risk of forgetting to take it.

Understand that other than complete abstinence, there is still a 1% chance of becoming pregnant with perfect use of oral contraceptives and a higher risk with typical use. It is important that you keep a consistent level of Brevicon in your body by taking it at the same time everyday and using a condom or other birth control method if you have forgotten to take your daily pill.

How Brevicon Helps You Avoid an Unplanned Pregnancy

When taken as directed, Brevicon will suppress the release of an egg so there is nothing to fertilize when you have intercourse. As a back-up means for decreasing your risk of a pregnancy, Brevicon also makes your vaginal fluid thicker so it’s more difficult for sperm to reach an egg if one is released and it changes the lining of your uterus in order to stop a fertilized egg from attaching and it simply passes out of your body. Brevicon will not, however, protect you or your partner from sexually transmitted diseases so it is always a good idea to use a condom.

Other Conditions Treated by Brevicon

Many women are plagued by painful periods and find that Brevicon helps to alleviate these problems by reducing the amount of prostaglandins produced in their uterus by preventing ovulation. Prostaglandins can cause the cramping that interferes with being able to enjoy your time doing other things. With the changes to your uterine lining caused by taking Brevicon, your periods may become lighter as there is less tissue to be shed when fertilization has not taken place.

Before Taking Brevicon

Take a pregnancy test before starting Brevicon or any oral contraceptives, as it could be harmful to an unborn baby. The active ingredients of Brevicon can pass into breast milk so you may have to choose bottle feeding or another form of contraception.

Discuss any medical conditions or allergies you have and tell you doctor about all current OTC and Rx drugs you are taking, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements. This will allow your doctor to decide if Brevicon is the right contraceptive for you. If you are a smoker, you should not take any oral contraceptives as your risk of blood clots, stroke, or a heart attack increases dramatically.

Proper Use of Brevicon

If this is your first time using an oral contraceptive, you should also use condoms, a diaphragm, or spermicide until Brevicon has a chance to start working for you. If you become sick with severe vomiting or diarrhea, use back-up birth control methods. Read the Brevicon package insert for direction on what to do if you have forgotten to take one or more of your pills or call your doctor for instructions.

Possible Side Effects of Brevicon

• Cramps
• Breast tenderness
• Weight gain or loss
• Nausea

Drugs Similar to Brevicon

• Aviane
• Alesse
• Ortho-Cyclen