Jolivette Birth Control Pills

Jolivette Birth Control

What are Jolivette Birth Control Pills?

Jolivette birth control pills are a progestin-only contraceptive and are called a “mini-pill” because they do not contain the hormone, estrogen. Jolivette is available in a blister pack containing 28 tablets. Like other progestin-only birth control pills, Jolivette prevents pregnancy in a couple different ways.

First, the progestin works by increasing the thickness of the cervical mucus at the entrance to the uterus (the womb), so that the sperm cannot get through and fertilize an egg.

Second, the hormones in Jolivette make changes to the fallopian tubes and the lining of the uterus. This prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. Furthermore, Jolivette birth control prevents ovulation (the release of an egg), but only in about half its users.

What Ingredients Are In Jolivette Birth Control?

The active ingredient in Jolivette birth control is norethindrone (a synthetic progestin). Each tablet contains 0.35mg of norethindrone. The inactive ingredients include lactose, magnesium stearate, modified corn starch, and povidone.

Some people may experience adverse reactions to this medication. If you have any allergies, make sure to notify your doctor and pharmacist before taking this medication.

How to Take Jolivette Birth Control

Jolivette Dosage Information

Before taking Jolivette birth control, you should understand how and when to take it. Make sure to read the patient instruction sheet carefully before using this medicine.

To begin, it is best to start taking Jolivette on the first day of your menstrual period. Continue taking the medication by mouth once a day for 28 days straight (or until all the pills are gone). If you get an upset stomach easily, it is recommended that you take the contraceptive with food.

When taking progestin-only pills, there are no “reminder pills” in the packages. Every pill contains the active ingredient, progestin, and need to be taken without a break so that the body receives a steady level of hormones.

After the 28 pills are gone, start on a new pack of pills right away.

Another option is to start taking Jolivette birth control on any other day of the month. If you decide to start your pack on a day other than the first day of your period, make sure to use a backup method of birth control, such as a condom or spermicide for the first 48 hours.

If you are switching from a combination pill to Jolivette, start taking it the day after you finish your last “active” pill in your combination pack. Throw away the sugar tablets in your combination pack and start taking the Jolivette pills right away.

What Is the Effectiveness of Jolivette Birth Control?

Other than abstinence, there is no contraceptive method that is 100 percent effective.

With perfect use (on time, every day), Jolivette birth control has a failure rate of approximately 0.5%. However, because there is no estrogen in progestin-only birth control, Jolivette is less forgiving if it is not taken exactly 24 hours apart. Thus, the actual failure rate of Jolivette is around 1 in 20 (5%) of users, giving it an effectiveness of 95%.

Pregnancy is more likely to occur when you forget to take a dose of birth control or if you are more than 3 hours late taking your pill. In either case, use a backup birth control method for the next 48 hours.

If you miss taking a dose, take it as soon as you remember. And then take the next pill at your regular scheduled time.

Disadvantages of Jolivette Birth Control

Side Effects of Jolivette

It is normal to experience bleeding or spotting throughout the month. If this occurs, continue taking your birth control pills at the same time every day.

Jolivette birth control pills are not meant for everyone. It is important to speak with you doctor before starting a new medication. You should not take Jolivette, or any other progestin-only pill:

If there’s a chance you may be pregnant
If you have breast cancer
If you have undiagnosed, irregular bleeding
If you have liver tumors
If you have acute liver disease

Taking Jolivette birth control may increase your risk of certain conditions, which include:

Blood clots
Ectopic pregnancy
Heart attack
Stroke

Jolivette birth control does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, chlamydia or gonorrhea.

Jolivette Birth Control Side Effects

Every person experiences different side effects while taking Jolivette birth control. Some of the common and normal side effects include:

Nausea and vomiting
Bloating
Breast tenderness
Headache
Weight gain
Bleeding or spotting

Some users may experience more serious side effects, but they are far less common. If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using the medication and seek medical attention right away:

Breast lumps
Mental changes (such as worsening depression)
Severe stomach / abdominal pain
Unusual vaginal bleeding
Dark urine
Yellowing eyes / skin

In rare cases, some people may experience a serious allergic reaction to Jolivette. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you could be having an allergic reaction to the ingredients. Seek immediate medical attention right away if you experience:

Rash
Itching / swelling
Severe dizziness
Trouble breathing

Jolivette birth control is not safe for everyone. Before you start taking this medication, speak with your doctor.

Is it Safe to Breastfeed While Taking Jolivette?

Birth Control While Breastfeeding

The progestin in Jolivette may pass through into breast milk. However, the low-dose birth control is not known to cause adverse effects on the health, growth or development of infants.

There have been isolated reports that Jolivette birth control, and other progestin-only birth control may decrease milk production.

Does Jolivette Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

Weight gain is a possible and common side effect. Users of Jolivette report that they experienced weight gain while using the medication. However, not every woman experiences the same side effects. If you are concerned about the possibility of gaining weight from Jolivette, speak with your doctor to find a birth control method that is right for you.

Jolivette Reviews

Jolivette User Reviews

Jolivette birth control currently has a 3-star rating on Drugs.com. This website has a total of 84 consumer reviews with an average rating of 5.5 out of 10.

Some common complaints from users include bloating, heavy bleeding and low sex drive. It’s important to remember that everyone reacts different to medication and this may not be the case for all users.

There are many birth control options available. You should speak with your doctor and find which birth control method is right for your health needs.