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Lolo Birth Control Pill: Reviews, Side Effects & Acne Treatment - EXPLAINED

Sep 22, 2022
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Lolo birth control pills are a low-dose combination hormonal pill containing two hormones, norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol to prevent pregnancy. When taken as directed, Lolo helps minimize the chances of getting pregnant. In other words, Lolo birth control pills contain an estrogen and a progestin. 

Lolo is the first and only oral contraceptive to combine 10 mcg of ethinyl estradiol with 1 milligram of a progestin, norethindrone acetate.

lolo birth control pill in Canada

The hormones in the Lolo birth control pill prevent the release of the egg during your menstrual cycle, also known as ovulation. They also change the lining of the uterus to prevent the attachment of the fertilized egg and make vaginal fluid thicker that prevents sperm from reaching the egg.

Besides preventing pregnancy, the Lolo contraceptive pill helps regulate your periods to make them lighter, shorter, and less uncomfortable. Lolo also lowers the risk of ovarian cysts and improves acne.

What do reviews say about Lolo as a birth control pill?

Everyone is unique in how they react to medication. Your health care provider is the best person who can help you understand if the Lolo birth control pill is right for you. Whether or not Lolo will work well for you depends on many factors, like your health history, your other medications, and your experience on other birth control pills. 

Reading about other people’s experience with the Lolo birth control pill can still be helpful. You’ll have a better idea of what questions and concerns you want to bring to your doctor. There are a few websites which compile user reviews of the Lolo birth control pill, or a similar medication called Lo Loestin Fe. 

Lolo reviews in drugs.com

The average rating given to Lolo for birth control in drugs.com is 5.7 out of 10. This rating on Lolo is based on 1375 ratings from 1454 user reviews. In general, 43% of Lolo reviewers reported a positive effect, while 37% reported a negative effect.

Source: https://www.drugs.com/comments/ethinyl-estradiol-norethindrone/lo-loestrin-fe-for-contraception.html

The majority of the women do not face any major side effects while on Lolo or Lo Loestin Fe. Even females who have minor side effects such as headaches, nausea, or diarrhea find that these side effects settle within a few days to weeks.

Lolo reviews on webmd.com

The average rating for Lo Loestrin Fe as a birth control pill is 3.5 out of 5. It is interesting to note Lo Loestrin Fe has high ratings for effectiveness and ease of use, however there are several reviews with low ratings for satisfaction. 

Source: https://www.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-154991-lo-loestrin-fe-oral?conditionid=3454

 
 

Lolo pill side effects

Common side effects of Lolo include the following:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea/upset stomach/vomiting
  • Vaginal spotting/irregular bleeding between periods
  • Bloating
  • Fluid retention

A small number of women taking Lolo experienced other side effects, including:

  • Menstrual cramping
  • Weight fluctuations
  • Breast soreness/tenderness

Some of the more severe side effects/concerns of Lolo are: 

  • Liver disease
  • Serious vascular issues (deep venous thrombosis)
  • Women who smoke and are over the age of 35 should not take Lolo  

Birth control pills are one of the top contraceptive options in Canada. Lolo's lower dose of estrogen helps minimize side effects while remaining an extremely effective method of birth control. 

When used as prescribed, the birth control pill’s pregnancy rate is less than 1%-4%, which means only one to four females on this pill may get pregnant out of every 100 users..

How does Lolo work?

Lolo has a unique dosing structure that includes both norethindrone acetate (progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (estrogen) to help prevent pregnancy.

The Lolo birth control pill, like any other, should be taken at the most convenient, same time everyday. Follow the blister pack and take one pill as directed per the packaging.

The first blue pill in the pack should be taken within the first 24 hours of your period. When you start on the first day of your period, the pill starts working right away to prevent pregnancy. Keep taking the remaining pills in the pack until the last day (28th) of the cycle. After the pack is completed, continue with the blue pill from a new Lolo pill pack, and do not take breaks in between packs even if you haven’t gotten your period yet. In case you miss taking a blue pill during the cycle, take the pill as soon as you remember, meaning you might have to take two pills in one day.

The make-up of this 28-tablet oral contraceptive is as follows:

  • 24 blue pills containing 10 mcg of estrogen and 1 mg of progestin
  • 2 white pills containing 10 mcg estrogen
  • 2 lilac placebo pills 

When taken as directed, Lolo prevents pregnancy by doing the following:

  • Prevents the ovary from releasing an egg
  • Thickens the vaginal fluid, which prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg
  • Changes the lining of the uterus, making it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant within the womb


 

How do I get Lolo birth control in Canada?

A prescription is required to get Lolo. Your doctor or nurse practitioner is best suited to review your medical history and determine whether or not Lolo is the pill for you. If you have questions or concerns, please discuss them with your healthcare provider.


 

How long does the Lolobirth control pill take to be effective?

If you begin taking Lolo on the first day of your period, the medication starts working right away to prevent pregnancy. If you decide to start taking Lolo on the first Sunday after your period starts, the pill may not prevent pregnancy during the initial 7 days. During this first week, use another method of contraception to prevent getting pregnant.

If you are taking Lolo to regulate your periods or to improve acne, it may take several weeks to months to start seeing an effect. 

What are the benefits of Lolo?

Lolo birth control is effective in preventing pregnancy when taken as directed. In addition to preventing pregnancy, Lolo has other added benefits .

Lolo is a low dosage birth control method that is effective at preventing pregnancy.  The better a woman adheres to the directions of the pill, the less of a chance it is to get pregnant.

Doctors often prescribe birth control pills to people with heavy or painful periods. Since Lolo has only two inactive pills, users can expect to have a shorter, lighter menstrual period. This is a significant benefit for those with challenging menstrual periods, as it can provide some much-needed relief.

Lolo has the lowest possible amount of estrogen while maintaining its efficacy. The lower dose of estrogen helps reduce side effects that are often associated with taking birth control pills. As a bonus, Lolo may be beneficial to those suffering from acne.

Lolo birth control for acne - Birth control pills contain synthetic hormones which mimic the female sex hormones. This suppresses the amount of male sex hormones (called androgens) which are known to cause acne. Lolo, like most other birth control pills, may also improve acne. It takes a few weeks to months of taking Lolo before you see an effect. 

What are the disadvantages of Lolo?

Like most birth control methods, Lolo pills may be associated with side effects for some women. Because the Lolo pill has a very low dose of estrogen, some women may have more breakthrough bleeding compared to other birth control pills containing higher estrogen doses. 

Do you get a period on Lolo?

You may get vaginal bleeding during the 2 days of placebo (lilac pills) at the end of each cycle. Usually, this bleed is much lighter and shorter than a regular period. 

However, some women on Lolo may not get any bleeding at all. In clinical trials, about a-third of women did not have a period after being on Lolo for a month. After a year, about half of all women taking Lolo did not have their periods. If you miss your period for the first time and haven’t been taking Lolo birth control pills regularly, it would be a good idea to take a pregnancy test. Even if you are taking Lolo pills as scheduled, you may want to take a pregnancy test if you miss two periods in a row.

Does Lolo birth control make you gain weight?

In clinical trials of the Lolo birth control pill, a very small percentage of women (2.9%) experienced weight fluctuation. Generally, the amount of weight gain was small (average 1.8 pounds). High doses of estrogen in older types of birth control pills are known to cause bigger appetite and fluid build-up. Lolo has the lowest dose of estrogen of all birth control pills sold in Canada. 

What do Lolo's pill colors mean?

The Lolo strip contains 3 colored medicines:

  • 26 blue pills: 1 milligram norethindrone acetate (progestin) and 10 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (estrogen)
  • 2 white pills: 10 micrograms ethinyl estradiol (estrogen)
  • 2 lilac  pills: These are placebo pills

Both blue and white pills are active pills, meaning they contain hormones. On the other hand, lilac pills contain placebo only.

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