Low-Ogestrel Dosing: An Introduction
Low-Ogestrel® (norgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is a generic version of
Lo/Ovral®. There is only one standard dose of Low-
Ogestrel. As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so. Although this form of birth control is effective when taken as directed, not taking it correctly increases the risk of unintentional pregnancy.
Basic Low-Ogestrel Dosing Instructions
Starting at the beginning of the pack, take one tablet daily at the same time each day. Each pack will last for 28 days (four weeks). After you finish one pack, immediately start a new one the next day. Do not wait any days between packs (this may take a little planning, since you will need a new pack on hand). The first 21 tablets contain the active ingredients, and the last 7 tablets contain no active ingredients. During this last week, your body gets a little break from the hormones, allowing you to have a period. Sometimes, you may have breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods. If this happens, keep taking the drug as usual.
Starting Low-Ogestrel for the First Time
When you take a
birth control pill for the first time, you can usually choose to start either on the first day of your period (a day 1 start) or on the first Sunday after your period starts (a Sunday start). Starting on Sunday may decrease the chance that you will have your periods on the weekends, although this is not always the case. Be aware that if you choose a day 1 start, the labeled days on the pack may not be correct (they are labeled for a Sunday start only). Be sure to follow your healthcare provider's instructions concerning when to start Low-Ogestrel.
If you start the medication on the first day of your period, you do not need any backup contraception. If you choose a Sunday start, you need to use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, for the first week. If the first day of your period happens to be on a Sunday, treat this as a day 1 start (no backup needed).
Check with your healthcare provider for more specific instructions if you are starting Low-Ogestrel after a birth, miscarriage, or abortion, or if you are switching from a different type of hormonal birth control, such as a different birth control pill, patch, ring, or injection.
