Mircette Birth Control Pills

What are Mircette Birth Control Pills?
Important Information
What to know before taking
How to take Mircette Birth Control
What happens if you miss a dose
Can you overdose?
Mircette Side Effects
Mircette Reviews
What other medications can affect Mircette?

What are Mircette Birth Control Pills?

Mircette birth control is a combination medication taken orally to prevent pregnancy. The tablets contain two hormones; progesterone (desogestrel) and estrogen (ethinyl estradiol).

These hormones prevent pregnancy by blocking the release of an egg from the ovaries (ovulation). Without an egg present, the ovaries, fertilization cannot occur. Like other birth control pills, Mircette can only be obtained with a prescription from a physician.

Other than preventing ovulation, the combination of hormones in Mircette are effective at thickening the cervical mucus and changing the lining of the uterus. Both make it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus, so the egg passes through the body during menstruation.

Mircette birth control pills are often used for other purposes not listed here. For more information, consult your doctor.

Important Information about Mircette

Do not take Mircette birth control if you think you are pregnant, recently had a baby or if you are still breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor before taking birth control pills.

Complications including blood clots, stroke, or heart attack are more likely to occur if you smoke while taking Mircette. People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or are overweight are more at risk for these complications.

Mircette birth control pills should not be taken if you have a history of any of the following:

Heart disease
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Problems with circulation
Diabetes
Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
Liver disease or cancer
Severe migraine headaches
Blood clots
Cancer of the cervix, uterus, breast or vagina.

It is not recommended that you take Mircette if you are over the age of 35, as it can significantly increase your chances of complications.

It’s important to note that using Mircette, or any other oral contraceptive pill does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (such as HIV or chlamydia). The best way to protect yourself against disease is to wear a condom.

What to Know Before Taking Mircette Birth Control Pills

Taking birth control pills increases your risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke. If you smoke or are over the age of 35 your chances of experiencing complications are increased. The risk of having a stroke or blood clots is highest within the first year of taking birth control pills, or if you restart taking them after 4 weeks or longer.

Breakthrough bleeding is common within the first three months of taking Mircette. If bleeding continues, or becomes heavier, consult your doctor right away.

Do not take Mircette if you have any of the following:

Heart disease
Circulation problems (especially if you have diabetes)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Liver disease or cancer
Severe migraine headaches
Unusual vaginal bleeding
If you smoke or over 35 years old

Make sure to notify your doctor if you have a history of any of the following:

Varicose veins
Depression
Heart disease
High blood pressure or are prone to blood clots
Diabetes
Gallbladder disease
Liver or kidney disease
Migraine headaches
Fibrocystic breast disease, lumps or nodules

Do not take Mircette birth control pills if there is a chance that you could be pregnant. It is recommended that you do not take Mircette if you are still breastfeeding, as the hormones in the medication can be passed through to your baby.

How to Take Mircette Birth Control Pills

Mircette birth control can only be prescribed from your physician. Make sure to read the directions on the prescription label and follow the instructions.

The Mircette pill pack consists of 21 active pills containing hormones, and 7 inactive sugar pills that are taken as a reminder.

You can start taking the birth control pills on the first day of your period, or the first Sunday following your start date. Take one active hormone pill every day for 21 consecutive days, followed by one inactive pill every day for the next 7 days.

To maximize the effectiveness, it’s important to take a pill at the same time every day, no more than 24 hours apart. Make sure to refill your prescription or have an extra pill pack on hand so that you don’t run out of pills.

Mircette prescription packages should be kept in a dry environment and away from any source of heat.

What Happens If You Miss a Dose of Mircette?

Missing a birth control pill increases your chances of becoming pregnant. If you forget to take one active pill, simply take two pills at the same time on the day that you remember. For the rest of the pack, take your usual one pill every day.

If you miss two active pills in a row within the first two weeks of the pack, take two pills for two days in a row until you are caught up. The next day, take your usual one pill every day for the rest of the pack.

In cases where more than two pills are missed within three weeks, start a fresh pack of pills. If you started taking your birth control pack on the first day of your period, throw out the rest of the pills and start a new pack right away. If you started the package on the first Sunday following the start of your period, keep taking the pills until Sunday and then start the new package.

If you miss a dose of Mircette, a backup birth control method such as a condom should always be used.

Can You Overdose from Taking Mircette?

Although it is uncommon, symptoms of an overdose are possible when taking Mircette birth control pills. Seek emergency medical assistance if you experience any of the following: nausea, vomiting or excessive vaginal bleeding.

The Side Effects of Mircette Birth Control Pills

Mircette Side Effects

Serious side effects from taking Mircette birth control pills are consistent with an allergic reaction and include hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, tongue, lips or face. If you experience any of these symptoms, receive emergency medical attention. Before taking Mircette, notify your doctor of any history of allergies.

Some of the common side effects of Mircette include:

Nausea or vomiting
Blotchy, dark areas on your skin
Breast tenderness
Breakthrough bleeding
Acne
Weight gain

Stop using Mircette immediately if you experience any of the following:

Symptoms of depression
Increased blood pressure (blurred vision or severe headache)
Heart attack symptoms (chest pain, nausea and sweating)
Signs of a stroke (sudden numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech)
Signs of a blood clot (chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing up blood)
Liver problems (loss of appetite, pain in upper stomach or fever)

This list does include all possible side effects from taking Mircette birth control pills. If you have any concerns while taking the birth control, consult your doctor.

Mircette Reviews

Mircette birth control has a current rating of 3 stars on Drugs.com and has received an average rating of 5.9 out of 10. Overall, users of Mircette were satisfied with the effectiveness of the birth control and some experienced minimal side effects. However, some users reported significant weight gain, mood swings, severe cramping, irritability and increased acne.

Using Mircette may not be for everyone so consult your doctor to find out what birth control method is best suited for you.

Which Other Medications Can Affect Mircette?

Using other medications may alter the results of Mircette. Using other medications could increase side effects or result in pregnancy. Make sure to notify your doctor of any prescription medications that you’re currently taking.