Can I Take LoSeasonique During Pregnancy?
LoSeasonique® (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription
birth control pill, also known as an
oral contraceptive. As with all birth control pills, LoSeasonique should not intentionally be used during pregnancy. There is no legitimate medical reason to take this drug when pregnant.
LoSeasonique and Pregnancy Category X
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category X is given to medications that should not be used during pregnancy, usually due to potentially serious problems, such as birth defects or miscarriages.
There is a common misconception that inadvertently taking birth control pills early in pregnancy is dangerous. However, even though LoSeasonique is a pregnancy Category X medication, it will probably not cause any problems if accidentally used during early pregnancy. Many studies have shown no increased risk of birth defects when birth control pills were accidentally taken in early pregnancy.
Because you will have your period only four times a year while taking LoSeasonique, make sure you are not pregnant any time you miss your period, or if you have any other reason to suspect you may be pregnant. Do not wait until you have missed two periods (as is often recommended with traditional birth control pills), as this will be several months away.
