How Do You Know If Levlen is The Perfect Birth Control Solution For You?

Yes, you've heard it before but it is a case of trial and error in finding out whether Levlen is the best oral contraceptive pill for your body. Sometimes known as Alesse and other brand names, Levlen is an oral contraceptive pill made up of two synthetic female hormones, estrogen and progestin. Often prescribed for other medical conditions, Levlen is primarily intended to be used by women as a convenient method of birth control. Pregnancy is prevented if an egg is not released from an ovary and thus cannot be 'caught' and fertilized by an energetic little sperm that has managed to reach it. Levlen acts to stop the egg escaping from its ovary and also slows down the frantically swimming sperm by thickening the mucous at the cervix - poor thing- must be like swimming through glue! Levlen makes doubly sure that even if an egg does get fertilized by a superhuman sperm, the chances of it being able to implant into the womb are almost impossible.

When do I take Levlen and how is it used?

As mentioned above, as well as birth control, Levlen is used to treat other female conditions including acne, endometriosis and to settle down pre-menstrual problems. However, Levlen is not taken for an indefinite period of time for these conditions but is usually prescribed for approximately 3 month courses on average. Your doctor will monitor your progress carefully with regular health checks if this treatment applies to you and decide how long you should be taking Levlen. If you wish to use the Levlen oral contraceptive as a method of birth control for a reasonable length of time though, you owe it to yourself to get the necessary medical checks first.

LEVLEN has a 98% success rate IF you take it correctly- since Levlen affects the levels of hormones in our body it makes sense that better regulation (and therefore effectiveness/protection) occurs if we take the contraceptive pill at the same time each day. If you take Levlen just before going to bed and with a little food in your stomach, it's likely that any side effects you may feel will quickly disappear. Some women report a week of adjustment, others as long as 3 months before their body type gets used to the new hormone levels.

If you have not taken Levlen before, remember to use additional birth control for the first week while your hormone levels alter. Of course, if your medical practitioner recommends using extra precautions for your first full cycle, then persevere, as it's a small price to pay for the ultimate convenience (and peace of mind!) of being able to rely on Levlen as an oral contraceptive for the longer term.

I've heard of nasty side effects with the contraceptive pill- will I have them too if I take Levlen?

First of all- don't expect to have any side effects but do be aware of your body's reactions when you first start a course of Levlen. The changing hormone levels throughout your menstrual cycle affect your body anyway so try to differentiate between what you 'normally' experience, be it mood swings, bloating or whatever and other 'changes' in your body when taking Levlen (or any contraceptive pill). Otherwise, most common side effects will usually fade after a few weeks once your body has got used to functioning with its new levels of hormones. During the first 3 weeks you may have some nausea or sweating. If you are over 35- you may find that your menstrual stops altogether OR may be prolonged (every woman is unique). Some women report yeast infections while on the contraceptive pill so Levlen would be no different here if they are 'prone' to this condition, others have slight increases in blood pressure.Remember, we are dealing with hormones here- so please be safe and discuss any persistent or worsening side effects with your doctor. It's worth some thorough trialling of contraceptive pills if Levlen does not suit your body, to have peace of mind and confidence in managing your birth control methods.

I am 36 and I smoke- is it safe to take Levlen?

If you are a non smoker, you should be fine but if you do smoke, the news is not so good. You are at a higher risk of having some quite severe side effects, especially heart related problems, that may make you think twice about asking your doctor for Levlen. You should certainly discuss another birth control option if you suffer from liver dysfunction,stroke, diabetes,high blood pressure or breast cancer. Occasionally, women find they gain weight, hopefully you are not in this category but some also complain about hairiness, which is a fair enough reason to try a different brand of contraceptive pill. One last word- you DO KNOW that no contraceptive pill, including Levlen, will protect you from HIV or any other sexually transmitted disease? Yes, Thought you did. Carole Pemberton is committed to researching and simplifying the latest information on contraceptives, including Levlen to empower teenagers and women to experience their sexuality and knowledgeably manage their birth control.

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