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Patient Info
BRIEF SUMMARY PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT
Oral contraceptives, also known as "birth control pills" or "the pill," are taken to prevent pregnancy and when taken correctly without missing any pills, have a failure rate of approximately 1% per year. The typical failure
rate is approximately 5% per year when women who miss pills are included. For most women oral contra-ceptives are also free of serious or unpleasant side effects. However, forgetting to take pills considerably
increases the chances of pregnancy. For the majority of women, oral contraceptives can be taken safely. But there are some women who are at high risk of developing certain serious diseases that can be fatal or may cause temporary or permanent
disability. The risks associated with taking oral contraceptives increase significantly if you: Text Continues Below
° smoke
° have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol
° have or have had clotting disorders, heart attack, stroke, angina pectoris, cancer of the breast or sex organs, jaundice or malignant or benign liver tumors. Although cardiovascular disease risks may be increased with oral contraceptive use after age 40 in healthy, non-smoking women (even with the newer low-dose formulations), there are also greater potential health risks associated with pregnancy in older women. You should not take the pill if you suspect you are pregnant or have unexplained vaginal bleeding. Most side effects of the pill are not serious. The most common such effects are nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain, breast tenderness, and difficulty wearing contact lenses. These side effects, especially nausea and vomiting, may subside within the first three months of use. The serious side effects of the pill occur very infrequently, especially if you are in good health and are young. However, you should know that the following medical conditions have been associated with or made worse by the pill: Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next >>
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