From the Guidelines
The three-month contraceptive pill is called Seasonale, which contains levonorgestrel and is a form of hormonal birth control. This extended-cycle oral contraceptive allows women to have only four periods per year instead of monthly periods. Seasonale contains the same hormones as traditional birth control pills but is taken continuously for 84 days followed by 7 days of placebo pills, during which menstruation occurs 1. To use Seasonale effectively, you should take one pill at the same time each day, and if you miss a dose, follow the package instructions for missed pills.
Key Points to Consider
- Side effects may include breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first few months of use, as well as typical hormonal birth control side effects like nausea, headaches, and breast tenderness.
- Seasonale works by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation.
- Other similar extended-cycle pills include Seasonique and Quartette, which function on the same three-month schedule but may have slightly different hormone formulations.
Important Considerations for Use
- It is essential to take Seasonale as directed to ensure its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
- Women should be aware of the potential side effects and discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider.
- Seasonale is a highly effective form of birth control, with a low percentage of women experiencing an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use, as seen in the data from 1.
From the Research
Three-Month Contraceptive Pill
The three-month contraceptive pill is also known as Seasonale (levonorgestrel) or Seasonique, a form of hormonal birth control.
- It is a 91-day extended-cycle oral contraceptive (OC) consisting of levonorgestrel/ethinylestradiol 150/30 µg for 84 days and ethinylestradiol 10 µg for 7 days 2.
- Seasonique was effective in preventing pregnancy in a large trial of healthy, sexually active women, with a Pearl index of 0.76 and a method-failure Pearl index of 0.26 2.
- Another study demonstrated that Seasonique is effective, safe, and well-tolerated for the prevention of pregnancy, with a method failure rate of 0.78 (Pearl index) and 0.64% (life table analysis) 3.
- Seasonale, a 91-day extended-cycle OC, was also found to be effective in preventing pregnancy and had a safety profile comparable to that of a conventional 28-day OC regimen 4.
Forms of the Contraceptive
- Seasonale contains 84 days of 30 µg ethinyl estradiol/150 µg levonorgestrel followed by 7 days of placebo 4.
- Seasonique contains 84 days of 30 µg ethinyl estradiol/150 µg levonorgestrel followed by 7 days of 10 µg ethinyl estradiol 2, 3.
- A new formulation with low-dose estrogen in an extended-cycle pattern has been developed, with 84 active pills containing 20 µg ethinyl estradiol and 100 µg levonorgestrel 5.