Although most women do not experience problems with Estrostep Fe, side effects are possible. Some of the common bothersome side effects include nausea, bloating, and headaches. Side effects are typically minor and, in most cases, easily treated. However, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you develop more serious side effects of Estrostep Fe, such as chest pain or depression.
An Introduction to Estrostep Fe Side Effects
As with any medicine, Estrostep
® Fe (norethindrone/ethinyl estradiol) can cause side effects. However, not every woman who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most women tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Many of the common side effects of
Estrostep Fe may improve within the first few cycles of use.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Estrostep Fe. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Estrostep Fe side effects with you. Estrostep Fe is equivalent to Tri-Legest® Fe birth control pills. The information in this article also applies to Tri-Legest Fe.)
Side Effects of Contraceptives and Clinical Studies
All prescription medications must be shown to be safe and effective in clinical studies before they are approved in the United States. For most medications, clinical studies involve two different groups; one group of people receives the actual medication, while another group is given a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). Usually, the subjects do not know if they are taking the real medication or the placebo.
During the clinical studies, the side effects in both groups are carefully documented. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and whether they are actual side effects of the medication. However, it is usually unethical to use a placebo in clinical trials for contraceptives, as this would lead to many unintentional pregnancies.
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