SEASONIQUE (LEVONORGESTREL/ETHINYL ESTRADIOL)

Seasonique Description

Seasonique is not like your traditional birth control pill, although it contains progestin and estrogen like many others. Taking Seasonique allows you to go three months at a time between menstruating for a total of four periods a year.

Each package contains 91 pills; 84 of them contain a progestin and an estrogen (Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol) and the remaining seven are estrogen only, during which time you will have your period. If you are new to Seasonique, you should also use a back-up birth control method for the first week to prevent a possible pregnancy while your body adjusts to it.

How Seasonique Works to Suppress Ovulation

Together, the two hormones in Seasonique suppress ovulation by tricking your pituitary gland into thinking that you are already pregnant so it reduces its production of two other hormones that stimulate ovulation. Should ovulation take place, Seasonique also works by thickening the cervical mucus to make it more difficult for sperm to make their way through your cervix and decreases the blood supply and a type of sugar called glycogen in your uterine lining so it becomes thinner and less likely to support a fertilized egg. There are no birth control pills that are 100% effective all the time.

Conditions Treated by Seasonique

Oral contraceptives may also be prescribed to reduce blood loss during your periods, regulate your periods, or to relieve the pain of endometriosis. The lining of your uterus is called the endometrium and, with the help of hormones, it prepares your body for pregnancy. When a pregnancy does not occur, this blood-enriched lining sheds and you have your period. Sometimes stray cells from this lining find their way into your pelvic cavity where they act like your uterine lining by bleeding and shedding. The problem is, as the blood and tissue breaks down, there is nowhere for it to escape from your body.

As time goes on you may start to experience painful periods and inflammation that can lead to scar tissue and interference with normal fertility. You should not ignore any pain or discomfort you feel during menstruation; see your doctor and get a diagnosis. Seasonique is not a cure for endometriosis, but it can help decrease your symptoms.

Before You Take Seasonique

Do not take Seasonique until you are certain that you are not pregnant. Ask your doctor about the safety of using Seasonique if you are nursing a baby. Discuss other medical conditions or allergies with your doctor and list any OTC or Rx medications you are taking, including herbal remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements. This allows your doctor to determine if Seasonique is right for you.

Seasonique Precautions

Do not take Seasonique if you are older than 35 years of age and smoke as this can increase your risk of heart problems, a heart attack, stroke, or developing blood clots. Until you know how Seasonique will affect you, avoid driving and other activities if you are light-headed. Seasonique will not protect you or prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Possible Side Effects of Seasonique

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Cramps or bloating