Birth control pills or oral contraceptives are medications designed to prevent pregnancy. They offer a safe, convenient and effective method for preventing pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, birth control pills have an effectiveness rate of less than one pregnancy out of 100 per year, if they are always taken as prescribed. Nordette is one type of combination birth control pill available for women.
Indications
Nordette is an U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved oral contraceptive or birth control pill indicated for the prevention of pregnancy. It is a combination of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol---two synthetic versions of female hormones, according to drugs.com. Nordette protects against pregnancy by preventing ovulation, a process where a mature egg is released from the ovaries, and causing changes to the lining of the uterus and cervical mucus which makes it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus and for sperm to reach an egg, respectively.
Side Effects
Side effects can occur while taking Nordette. Stop taking Nordette and call a doctor if any of the following serious side effects occurs. These include sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, chest pain or a spreading pain through the arm or shoulder, depression symptoms and sudden problems with vision, speech or balance. Less serious and more common side effects of taking Nordette include mild nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps, breast pain or swelling and changes in weight, appetite or menstrual periods, according to Drugs.com.
Dosage and Administration
Nordette is available as a 28-day package consisting of 21 active and seven inert tablets. For full contraceptive effectiveness, Nordette must be taken exactly as prescribed. The first active tablet should be taken the first Sunday after the onset of menstruation followed by one active tablet per day---preferably at the same time---until the 21 active tablets have been taken, according to Drugs.com. This if followed by taking one inert pill for seven consecutive days. The 28-day cycle is repeated the first Sunday after menstruation, thereafter. It is important to note that upon initial use of Nordette or after two or more missed doses, another form of contraception should be used until at least seven consecutive active pills have been taken to prevent pregnancy.
Warning
Pregnant women should not use Nordette as it can cause birth defects, according to Drugs.com. It is also recommended not to be used by breast-feeding women and to wait at least four weeks after having a baby before taking Nordette. Smoking is not recommended while taking oral contraceptives because it increases the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attacks. Nordette should not be used by individuals with a history of stroke or blood clots, circulation problems, breast or uterine cancer, liver disease or cancer and heart valve disorder, according to RxList.com.
Health Benefits
Along with the benefit of pregnancy prevention, Nordette provides other health benefits, according to Drugs.com. In relation to menstruation, Nordette use results in better menstrual cycle regularity, decreased blood loss and incidence of uterine pain during menstruation, a condition called dysmenorrhea. Long-term Nordette use also decreases the incidence of functional ovarian cysts, ovarian and endometrial cancer, acute pelvic inflammatory disease and certain cancers of the breast.
Member Comments