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Effective
The Pill is one of the most
effective reversible ways to prevent pregnancy (99%
effective when taken as directed). It contains man-made
versions of the natural hormones estrogen and
progesterone. Because of these hormones, the Pill prevents
a woman's reproductive organs from preparing for pregnancy
in two ways:
- It stops the ovary from releasing an egg
- It prevents the man's sperm from entering the uterus
by thickening the mucus produced by the woman's cervix
so that it forms a natural barrier
Convenient
For women who choose birth
control, ALESSE®, like all birth control
pills, is a highly effective choice that can fit into
today's lifestyle. And because you have to take the Pill every
day as directed to prevent pregnancy, some pillpacks
may be more appealing to you personally than others.
ALESSE® comes in a small, round pillpack that
fits into the palm of your hand and is easy to use.
Reversible
The Pill is one of the most
effective reversible ways to prevent pregnancy (about 99%
effective when taken as directed). What's more, you do not
need to take a rest from using it. In fact, taking a rest
may actually increase your chances of unintended
pregnancy. If you are healthy and do not smoke, you may be
able to use the Pill for as long as you require effective
contraception. Although some women may experience a delay
in becoming pregnant after they stop using the
Pill—especially if they had irregular periods before
starting to use it—the Pill does not cause
infertility.
Low-dose
When the first birth control
pills were introduced back in the 1960s, they contained
high doses of two key ingredients—the female hormones
estrogen and progestin.
Thanks to the efforts to reduce the amounts of these
hormones, today's pill is now available in a number of
low-dose formulations with less hormones than the Pills
your mother may have taken.
Over the years, however, the doses of these two hormones
have been reduced in various formulations of the Pill.
These different brands have either 35 micrograms (mcg), 30
mcg, or 20 mcg of estrogen—and all are 99% effective
when taken as directed.
Benefits beyond birth control
Like all birth control pills, ALESSE® may
provide a number of benefits in addition to preventing
pregnancy. They are:
- Menstrual cycles may become more regular.
- Blood flow during menstruation may be lighter, and
less iron may be lost; therefore, anemia due to iron
deficiency is less likely to occur.
- Pain or other symptoms during menstruation may be
encountered less frequently.
- Ectopic (tubal) pregnancy may occur less frequently.
- Noncancerous cysts or lumps in the breast may occur
less frequently.
- Acute pelvic inflammatory disease may occur less
frequently.
- Birth control pill use may provide some protection
against developing two forms of cancer: cancer of the
ovaries and cancer of the lining of the uterus.
Oral Contraceptive Use in the U.S.
Today, birth control pills
remain the most widely-used, reversible contraceptive
option in America. In fact, more than seven million women
take birth control pills daily. Pill use is highest among
25- to 34-year-old women and is popular among all age
groups because it is highly effective and fits into their
active lifestyles. Women who have ever used oral
contraceptives have rated their satisfaction the highest
compared to other contraceptive methods.
This product information
is intended only for residents of the United States.
Important Safety
Information
Oral contraceptives are
not for every woman. Most side effects of the Pill are not
serious. Those that are occur infrequently. Serious risks
of all birth control pills, which can be life-threatening,
include blood clots, stroke, and heart attack, and are
increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking
increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects
from oral contraceptive use, especially if you are over
35. Women who use oral contraceptives should not smoke.
Some women should not use the Pill, including women who
have had heart attack, stroke, blood clots, certain
cancers or liver diseases, unexplained vaginal bleeding,
those who are or may be pregnant, and those who have
hypersensitivity to any of the components of ALESSE®.
Speak to your health care provider about whether oral
contraceptives are right for you. The Pill does not
protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually
transmitted diseases.
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