Trivora is a type of combined oral contraceptive (COC), or birth control, that's taken by mouth every day to prevent pregnancy. It's a triphasic birth control, meaning it has three different phases of hormones that tries to mimic (are similar to) the rise and fall of hormones in the menstrual cycle. Some people find triphasic birth controls, like Trivora, more complicated to take, especially if they need to make up for a missed dose.
To prevent pregnancy
Trivora is a combination medication that contains two hormones, levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). Both hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Suppressing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary)
Changing cervical mucus to block sperm movement
Creating an unfriendly environment for the fertilized egg by changing the lining in the uterus (womb)
Source: DailyMed
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Chance of becoming pregnant is less than 1% if taken as directed
Can regulate period cycle
Might have less breakthrough bleeding compared to other birth control pills
Hormones provided by the pill every week are similar to your body's natural hormone production
Different colored pills might be confusing
Dosing is complicated if you're trying to make up for missed pills
Not recommended for women who smoke cigarettes
Risk of heart attacks, blood clots, and stroke
Trivora can be taken to prevent pregnancy, but it can't protect against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Before taking Trivora, let your provider know all of your health conditions to see if this medication is safe for you. Depending on your health condition, you might need to follow up with your provider regularly while you're taking Trivora.
Let your provider know all of your current medications. Certain medications can interact with Trivora and make it work less well in preventing pregnancy. Some medications can also raise your risk of breakthrough bleeding.
Take Trivora at the same time every day. If you miss your pills, there's a chance that you can become pregnant. Talk to your provider about what you should do if you miss your pills.
Check with your provider if you don't have a regular period after completing a pack of Trivora to make sure you're not pregnant. Studies haven't shown a risk of birth defects in females who've used birth control pills before pregnancy or during early pregnancy, but it's no longer necessary to take them once you're pregnant.
You might experience swelling when you take Trivora. Follow up with your provider regularly if you have health conditions that might get worse with additional fluid and swelling in your body. If you have a rare, swelling condition called hereditary angioedema, medications with estrogens, such as Trivora, might cause or worsen the symptoms of swelling in your body.
Talk to your provider if you experience symptoms of depression or worsening depression while taking Trivora. Your provider might take you off this medication if you have serious depression.
Trivora can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Women over 35 years old who smoke | Nonsmoking women over 40 years old | Heavy smoking | High blood pressure | High cholesterol | Obesity | Diabetes
Smoking cigarettes while taking Trivora can raise the risk of serious heart problems. The risk gets higher as you get older, especially if you're over 35 years old, and if you smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day. Women who are taking oral contraceptives, such as Trivora, shouldn't smoke because of this risk.
Trivora can worsen certain health problems and raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. These serious problems can lead to death or temporary or permanent disability. Speak to your provider before starting Trivora if you have heart problems or any of the risk factors listed above that would put you at a risk for heart problems or strokes. Your provider can help you determine if this medication is safe for you. Let your provider know right away if you experience crushing chest pain, heaviness in the chest, sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, changes in vision or speech, or weakness or numbness in the arms or legs.
Risk factors: Women over 35 years old | High blood pressure | Smoking | Surgery | Not walking | Within 4 weeks of childbirth
Trivora can raise your risk of blood clots. This risk is not determined by how long you take Trivora, and will disappear once you stop taking the medication. You're at a higher risk for blood clots if you're going in for surgery, unable to walk for a long period of time, or recently delivered a baby. Talk to your provider about stopping Trivora at least 4 weeks before and for 2 weeks after your surgery or during bed rest. If you recently delivered a baby, you shouldn't start Trivora until at least 4 to 6 weeks after delivery if you're not breastfeeding your child. Let your provider know right away if you experience sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, or pain in your legs, as these could be a sign of a clot.
Although rare, Trivora can raise the risk of getting a blood clot in the veins of your eye, which can lead to eye problems. Stop taking Trivora and let your provider know right away if you experience any vision changes or vision loss. Get your eyes checked if you have vision changes while wearing contacts or if your eyes can no longer tolerate your contacts.
Risk factors: Older age | Long-term use | High blood pressure | Kidney problems
Trivora can raise your blood pressure, so make sure you monitor your blood pressure while you're taking this medication. The risk is higher in people who are older and have been taking birth control for a long period of time. Speak to your provider if you have high blood pressure and they can help you pick a different method of birth control that's safer for you. Your blood pressure can return to normal after stopping your birth control pill.
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes | High triglycerides
Trivora can raise your blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. Speak with your provider before starting oral contraceptives if you have diabetes, prediabetes, or high cholesterol. If you choose to take Trivora with those health conditions, your provider will monitor you regularly.
People who take Trivora can sometimes experience irregular bleeding and spotting, especially during the first 3 months of taking this medication. Irregular bleeding can vary from slight staining to bleeding similar to a regular period. This problem might be temporary, so continue taking your medication as directed. Let your provider know if the bleeding is a problem for you and they can change your birth control. If you're missing your periods, make sure you get a pregnancy test or contact your provider to make sure you're not pregnant.
Let your provider know if you experience new or worsening migraines or headaches while taking Trivora. Your provider might have you stop your birth control pill if your migraine or headache doesn't go away or becomes severe.
Risk factors: History of breast cancer | Long-term use | History of cervical cancer
People who currently have or have had breast cancer shouldn't take Trivora because some breast cancers are sensitive to hormones. The risk of developing breast cancer is slightly higher in women who currently take COCs, have taken them within the past 6 months, or have been taking them for a long time (8 years or more). Ask your provider to show you how to examine your breasts regularly, and let them know if you have any new or abnormal lumps in your breast.
Trivora might raise the risk of cervical cancer. Make sure you follow up with your provider to get proper screenings, and to report any signs of vaginal bleeding or discharge that's not normal.
Risk factors: Liver problems or infection in the liver | Taking COCs with 50 mcg of estrogen or higher
Though rare, Trivora can cause liver problems, such as liver damage and liver tumors. These problems are linked more with earlier formulations of COCs that contained higher levels of estrogen (50 mcg of higher), and less so with Trivora since it contains at most 30 mcg of estrogen. Don't use this medication if you already have liver problems. Call your provider right away if you experience symptoms of liver problems, such as tiredness, stomach pain, or yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes.
Certain medications can make Trivora get broken down faster in your body, making it less effective and can lead to pregnancy. Some examples include carbamazepine (Tegretol) and phenytoin (Dilantin). Use a back-up method or other form of birth control for at least 28 days after stopping any of these medications. Other medications can raise the amount of Trivora in your body, which can lead to more side effects. Make sure to tell your provider or pharmacist all of your medications so they can make sure they don't interact with Trivora.
If you have hepatitis C and need to be treated with Viekira Pak (dasabuvir / ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir), let your provider know right away that you're taking a COC. You'll need to stop Trivora before starting Viekira Pak because taking them together can cause liver problems. You can start Trivora again 2 weeks after you stop Viekira Pak.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
28 tablets | 3 packages | $22.68 | $7.56 |
Trivora (and its branded generics) comes in a 28-day pack. Your medication might look different depending on which branded generic your provider prescribes. Please take the medication as instructed by your provider or following the directions on the package. In general:
Day 1 through 6: 0.05 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol
Day 7 through 11: 0.075 mg levonorgestrel and 40 mcg ethinyl estradiol
Day 12 through 21: 0.125 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol
Day 22 through 28: Placebo tablets (hormone-free)
The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth at the same time every day for 28 days, following the order as instructed on the package.
Current or history of blood clots
A history of heart attack or stroke
Current or history of breast cancer
Tumors that require estrogen for growth
Unexplained vaginal bleeding that hasn't been diagnosed
Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of birth control pills
Liver tumors or liver cancer
Pregnancy
Taking hepatitis C medication with ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and ritonavir, with or without dasabuvir
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