What is a Extended-cycle pill?
An Extended-cycle pill is a birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy. The extended-cycle pill either reduces the number of periods a woman has or eliminates them in totality. A typical extended-cycle pill pack has 28 pills, but only 21 are active. The 21 pills contain female sex hormone (estrogen and progestin) that suppress a woman’s fertility.
Bleeding occurs during the week when the woman starts to take the inactive pills. The bleeding is not the same as the regular period. It is as a result of the body’s reaction to the hormones contained in the extended-cycle pill.
Extended-cycle pill Medical Uses
The extended-cycle pill contains two hormones; estrogen and progestin. To prevent pregnancy, extended-cycle pill works in three ways as outlined below.
Stopping Ovulation – Extended-cycle pill primarily works by preventing an egg from leaving the ovaries (ovulation). When ovulation does not occur, fertilization cannot take place.
Preventing Fertilization – If the egg leaves the ovary, the hormones in the extended-cycle pill will increase the thickness of the cervical fluid. In so doing, the extended-cycle pill blocks the sperm cell’s ability to swim to the egg so as to cause fertilization.
Preventing Implantation – The extended-cycle pill also stops a fertilized egg from implanting itself in the uterine wall. The egg is the passes out of the body as part of the menstrual cycle. This happens when the woman is taking the inactive pills.
Extended-cycle pill is used to;
- Prevent pregnancy
- Reduce the risk of ovarian cysts
- Make periods more regular
Extended-cycle pill Side Effects
The hormones in extended-cycle pill will cause side effects as is the case with any other birth control pills. These side effects are moderate and will disappear after the body gets used to the effects of the drug. However, medical care should be sought if the following side effects do not go away.
- stomach cramps or bloating
- increased or decreased appetite
- weight gain or weight loss
- brown or black skin patches
- hair growth in unusual places
- changes in menstrual flow
- painful or missed periods
- white vaginal discharge
- severe headache
- severe vomiting
- speech problems
- dizziness or faintness
- weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
- crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
- coughing up blood
- shortness of breath
- leg pain
- partial or complete loss of vision
- double vision
- bulging eyes
- severe stomach pain
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- loss of appetite
- extreme tiredness, weakness, or lack of energy
- dark-colored urine
- light-colored stool
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- unusual bleeding
- menstrual bleeding that lasts for more than 7 days in a row
Other side effects may occur. Consult your doctor.
Extended-cycle pill Interactions
The extended-cycle pill can interact with certain drugs and substances. Share a list of all medicines and supplements that you may be using before taking the extended-cycle pill. Do not take the extended-cycle pill if you are allergic to its active ingredients.
Extended-cycle pill drug and substance interactions
- Ambien (zolpidem)
- Ativan (lorazepam)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
- Klonopin (clonazepam)
- Lamictal (lamotrigine)
- Lexapro (escitalopram)
- Singulair (montelukast)
- Topamax (topiramate)
- Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)
- Xanax (alprazolam)
- Zofran (ondansetron)
- Zoloft (sertraline)
- Zyrtec (cetirizine)
Consult your doctor on more drug interactions
Extended-cycle pill Drugs