Loestrin 20'

Loestrin 20'

Loestrin

Loestrin 20 (ethinylestradiol and norethisterone). How does it work?

Loestrin 30 tablets are a type of hormonal contraception
commonly known as the pill or combined oral contraceptive pill. Loestrin
30 tablets contain two active ingredients, ethinylestradiol and norethisterone.
These are synthetic versions of the naturally occurring female sex hormones,
oestrogen and progesterone. Ethinylestradiol is a synthetic version of oestrogen and
norethisterone is a synthetic form of progesterone.

Combined oral contraceptives like Loestrin 30 work by
over-riding the normal
menstrual cycle,levels of the sex hormones change throughout each month. The hormones cause an
egg to be released from the ovaries (ovulation) and prepare the lining of the
womb for a possible pregnancy. At the end of each cycle, if the egg has not
been fertilised the levels of the hormones fall, causing the womb lining to be
shed as a monthly period.

The daily dose of hormones taken in the pill work mainly by
tricking your body into thinking that ovulation has already happened. This
prevents an egg from ripening and being released from the ovaries each
month.

The hormones also increase the thickness of the natural mucus at
the neck of the womb, which makes it more difficult for sperm to cross from the
vagina into the womb and reach an egg. They also change the quality of the womb
lining (endometrium), making it less likely that a fertilised egg can implant
there.

What is it used for?

Taking the contraceptive pill usually results in lighter, less painful and more
regular menstrual bleeding. This means it is sometimes also prescribed for
women who have problems with particularly

Loestrin 30 is a monophasic pill. This means that each tablet
has the same dose of hormones in it. One tablet is taken every day for 21 days
and you then have a seven day break from pill-taking. During your seven day
break, the levels of the hormones in your blood drop, which results in a
withdrawal bleed that is similar to your normal period. You start the next pack
after the seven pill-free days are up, even if you are still bleeding.

The tablets come in a calendar pack marked with days of the week
to help you remember to take a pill every day for three weeks, followed by a
week off. You will still be protected against pregnancy in your pill-free week,
provided you took all the pills correctly, you start the next packet on time
and nothing else happened that could make the pill less effective (eg sickness,
diarrhoea, or taking certain other medicines - see below).