Birth Control Pills Reviews

Alesse–What’s in a name?

Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol, known as Alesse, is an effective birth control method. It’s a combination (has both estrogen and progeterone) oral contraceptive. The hormone levels in Alesse prevent ovulation and change the uterus so that eggs have extreme difficulty implanting. The drug is also sold as: Aviane, Levlite, Levlen, Levota, Tri-leven, Triphasil, Trivora and Triphasil-28.

This brand or other brands

Levonorgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol are the synthetic hormones used in Alesse and some other brands. Levonorgestrel is the estrogen and Ethinyl Estradiol is the progestin. Even though other brands have the same hormones, they can affect the body differently. The difference is the dosages vary form brand to brand and if the birth control pill is triphasic, biphasic or monophasic. If you are to switch between brands thinking they are the same, you might be surprised with side effects you’ve never had before or new benefits. Your doctor’s consultation is recommended.

Triphasic, biphasic or monophasic

Combination birth control pills contain both estrogen and progestin and they are multiphasic or monophasic. A monophasic pill, like Alesse, will have the same dosage for the first 21 pills. The other 7 pills (of 28) have no hormones and are there to maintain the habit of taking them regularly. In multiphasic pills the dosage of progestin varies during the 21 days. Estrogen levels in multiphasic (this includes bi and tri-phasic) pills remain fixed. In biphasic pills there are two different levels of progestin and in triphasic there are 3. Oral Contraceptives that vary the progestin hormone levels usually manage side effects better than monophasic pills.

Usage Precautions

Women who are pregnant should not take any hormonal birth control pills as well as women who have just given birth. Anyone with heart problems, blood clots or circulatory problems related to diabetes, uterine or breast cancer (cancers related to hormones), high blood pressure, abnormal menstrual bleeding and liver problems is also advised to avoid Alesse. Also, smokers especially if they are over the age of 35 should avoid hormonal contraceptives.

During the first month with Alesse, it’s a good idea to use another form of birth control such as condoms or a spermicidal cream as a backup. Your doctor can give specific information as to how long to use a back up plan before relying on the contraceptive pill alone.

Follow link to for more Information or to buy Alesse

Johnson & Johnson’s legal battles may not be front page news anymore but the battle rages on. This is the problem with big media an why I seldom watch or read any of it…no follow up.

Lawyers Are Marching Forward.

A few times a week I’m on the net looking for birth control related news. I’ve seen a lot of Google ads from lawyers looking to represent women who’ve had problems with the patch. Check out the ad on this screen grab from the bottom of my site:

I’m always skeptical when I see lawyers advertising. I feel like they’re in a feeding frenzy and wonder if the threat is real or only perceived as real.

Johnson & Johnson must be getting tired of the law suits and all the bad press. J&J settled a lawsuit over the death of a 14 year old girl using the patch. As an experiment I put birth control patch in Google and all I saw were a negative stories and a few information articles on how they work. Anyone who looks into it surely isn’t going to rush to buy it.

What’s Up With the FDA?

In 2006 the FDA issued a statement that the patch needed more studies but didn’t take it off the market. Just recently they modified the label stating the high risks of using it. That implies to me it’s still being sold. How much does it take to pull the plug on a product that’s dangerous especially since it’s come to light that J&J hid the true results of the study?

J&J Fights Back

What is Johnson & Johnson doing now? They’ve decided to fight back. Yup fight back. This story goes into how J&J is trying to make it illegal for people to sue them over the patch related incidents. Basically they say if the FDA approved it then you can’t sue.

When I first looked at the patch I decided it wasn’t the way to go for my daughter and any women. That opinion still stands.

–Mike

WOMEN WHO SMOKE WHILE USING HORMONAL BIRTH CONTROL ARE GAMBLING WITH THEIR HEALTH

Want another reason to quit smoking? An online study cunducted in November 0f 2007 sheds new light on women who smoke whilke on birth control pills.

“Smoking while on birth control containing hormones like The Pill, Patch or Ring may increase the risk of serious health problems, such as blood clots, stroke and heart attack. A recent survey reveals that eight out of ten women smokers continued to do so even though they were aware of the risks associated with this behavior.”

Go here to get more info and videos

mnr.onthescene.com/paragard/survey.html#

Mike