Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) is a once-weekly birth control patch. It's a combination hormonal contraceptive that contains an estrogen and progestin. Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) is used to help prevent pregnancy in people with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 kg/m2. A new patch is placed on the skin every week for 3 weeks, followed by a patch-free week, and then the cycle is repeated. Side effects can include skin irritation where the patch is placed and nausea.
Prevention of pregnancy
Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) contains a combination of two hormones: levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen). These hormones work together to prevent pregnancy by:
Stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg (also known as ovulation)
Making it harder for sperm to move through to fertilize an egg
Making it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus and grow
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 to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
When used correctly, 95% effective at preventing pregnancy
A patch that's placed on the skin; an alternative to the birth control pill
Applied once a week
Can't use if you have a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more because of risk for blood clots
Might fall off if you get the patch wet for too long (more than 30 minutes) or if you use too much body lotion or oil
No lower-cost generic available; brand-name medication only
It's important to follow the directions to make sure you apply Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) properly. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you have any questions about how to use the patch.
Apply the Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch to the upper body (e.g., upper back), lower stomach, or buttock. Avoid placing the patch on your breasts, in places where tight clothing can rub against the patch, or in the same spot as your last patch. Don't cut or tear the patch.
The Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch should stick to your skin completely for the whole week. Replace it with a new patch each week, on the same day of the week, for 3 weeks in a row. Then, take a week-long break before you start the cycle over again. Set reminders on your calendar to help you remember when to apply and take off each patch.
Your skin might be irritated where you placed the Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch. If the skin irritation becomes too bothersome, you can take off the patch and apply a new one to a different spot until the day that you typically replace your patch.
You can get your Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch wet, but not for too long (at most 30 minutes at a time). Also avoid using too much body lotions or oils where your patch is. Both of these things might make the patch stick less well to your skin and possibly fall off, which can make the medication work less well. Check that your Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch is attached to your skin every day and after you get out of the water.
Talk to your prescriber if you forget to apply or change your Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch or if your patch comes off your skin. In these situations, you might need to use a back-up, non-hormonal birth control method (e.g., condom) in addition to using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). Your prescriber can let you know whether you need a back-up method and for how long.
You might notice some spotting or light vaginal bleeding while you have the Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch on. Spotting is more likely to happen during the first 3 months of using the patch, but it typically lessens over time. Let your prescriber know if spotting doesn't get better as you continue using the patch. You can consider switching to a different birth control to see if that helps.
Wear sunscreen and avoid tanning beds to protect your skin while you're using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). This medication can cause areas of your skin on your face to darken. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can make these patches of skin even darker.
Don't use Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) during pregnancy. Stop using the patches if you become pregnant while you're using this medication. You won't need birth control at that point.
Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) 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: Over age 35 years old who smoke cigarettes
Smoking while using combined hormonal birth control like Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) raises the risk for having a blood clot. Blood clots can sometimes lead to more serious problems, such as heart attack or stroke. This risk gets higher after the age of 35 and with the more cigarettes you smoke. For this reason, you can't use Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) if you're over 35 years of age and you smoke. Discuss with your prescriber about other birth control options or resources to quit smoking.
You can't use Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or greater. Studies show that this birth control patch might work less well at preventing pregnancy for people with a very high BMI than for those with a lower BMI. In addition, studies found that people with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more are at greater risk for blood clots than those with a lower BMI. Speak with your prescriber about alternative options if you have a larger body size.
Risk factors: Personal or family history of blood clots | Over age 35 and smoke | High blood pressure | Diabetes (high blood sugar) | BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more | Migraine with aura | Not moving for a long period of time, like after surgery or on plane trips
There's a small risk that using combined hormonal birth control like Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can cause blood clots. These clots can block blood from reaching other parts of your body, like your legs, lungs, heart, or brain. Some clots can lead to complications, such as heart attacks or strokes.
Before you start using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol), make sure to discuss with your prescriber about whether it's safe for you because there are many factors that raise your risk for blood clots. Let your prescriber know at least a month before a planned surgery so they can discuss when you should stop and restart Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) to lower your blood clot risk.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of a blood clot, heart attack, and stroke.
Clot in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT): swelling, tenderness, or pain in the leg.
Clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism, PE): shortness of breath.
Stroke: sudden weakness on one side of your body, drooping face, bad headaches, trouble breathing, or changes in your speech or vision.
Heart attack: arm pain, chest pain, or a cold sweat.
Clot in the eye: double vision, partial or complete blindness, or trouble seeing.
Take off the Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch (or stop using it) and call 911 right away if you have any symptoms of a blood clot or complications of a blood clot.
Risk factors: History of liver damage | Liver tumors | Taking certain hepatitis C treatments
Combined hormonal birth control like Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can cause damage to your liver. Talk to your prescriber before you start using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) if you're taking certain hepatitis C medications. You might not be able to use this birth control method because of a higher risk of liver damage when it's used along with certain hepatitis C medications. Although rare, combined hormonal birth control can also raise your risk for liver tumors, especially if you've been taking birth control for a long time.
Let your prescriber know as soon as possible if you notice symptoms of liver problems, like yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, pain in the upper right stomach, or dark urine, while you're using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
Risk factors: High blood pressure | Older age | Long-term use
Some people who've used combined hormonal birth control like Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) have had higher blood pressure. Let your prescriber know if you have a history of high blood pressure (hypertension). Your prescriber might recommend that you regularly check your blood pressure at home and keep a log of your readings. Tell your prescriber if you notice that your blood pressure is a lot higher than usual. Depending on how high your blood pressure is, you might need to stop using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
Risk factors: History of gallbladder condition
Using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) might raise your risk for new or worsening gallbladder problems. Tell your prescriber if you've had gallbladder problems in the past. And contact your prescriber if you have symptoms of gallbladder issues, like dark urine, light-colored stools, itchiness, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, while you're using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol).
Risk factors: Prediabetes or diabetes (high blood sugar)
Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can raise your blood sugar levels, since the medication can affect how well your body processes sugar. Tell your prescriber if you have high blood sugar levels or diabetes. Your prescriber might recommend that you check your blood sugar often to make sure it doesn't get too high. Contact your prescriber if you get very thirsty or hungry or if you urinate more often while you're using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). These might be signs that your blood sugar levels are too high.
Risk factors: Personal or family history of high triglyceride (fat) levels
Using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can raise your cholesterol levels, including your triglyceride levels. Having higher triglyceride levels can put you at risk for swelling in the pancreas (pancreatitis). Let your prescriber know if you have high cholesterol levels so they can consider whether Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) is safe for you. Contact your care team if you notice pain around your upper stomach, nausea, or vomiting. These can be signs of pancreatic problems.
You might notice changes to your menstrual bleeding patterns after you start using Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol). It's normal to see some breakthrough bleeding and spotting, especially during the first 3 months of using this medication. Breakthrough bleeding and spotting typically lessens over time. But let your prescriber know if it doesn't eventually get better. Your prescriber might consider discussing changing to a different birth control with you.
It's also possible for you to not have your period at all during the week you aren't wearing a Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) patch (the last week in the 4-week cycle). Keep in mind that not having your period can be a sign that you might be pregnant, so consider whether pregnancy is a possibility and take a pregnancy test to check. This is especially important if you might not have followed the exact instructions on when to apply the patch.
Risk factors: Currently have or have had breast cancer
Based on studies, it's unclear whether there's a link between using combined hormonal birth control and the risk for breast cancer or cervical cancer. But it's possible that combined hormonal birth control like Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) can potentially affect the risk of developing these cancers.
Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) contains estrogen and progestin hormones. Some cancers, such as breast and cervical cancers, can be hormone-dependent, which means that they can rely on hormones like estrogen to grow. Some studies suggest that there's a slightly higher risk of breast cancer or cervical cancer if you've been taking combined oral contraceptive pills for a longer period of time.
To be safe, don't use Twirla (levonorgestrel / ethinyl estradiol) if you currently have or have had breast cancer. Talk with your prescriber about your birth control options if you're worried about your risk for breast cancer or cervical cancer.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
3 patches of 120mcg/30mcg | 1 carton | $211.01 | $211.01 |
Weeks 1 to 3: Apply 1 patch to your skin once a week on the same day of the week. Be sure to take off your current patch before you apply a new one. The patch releases 120 mcg of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol each day.
Week 4: Don’t apply any patches this week.
Each cycle lasts 4 weeks. Continue to repeat the cycle to prevent pregnancy.
BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more
Current or history of blood clot
Blood-clotting conditions
Stroke
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Certain heart rhythm problems, like atrial fibrillation (AFib)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Over the age of 35 who smoke
Over the age of 35 who have migraine headaches
Diabetes with high blood pressure, diabetes for over 20 years, or over the age of 35 with diabetes
Liver tumors or liver disease
Currently pregnant
Currently have or have had breast cancer
Abnormal vaginal bleeding that your prescriber doesn’t know about or hasn't checked out yet
Prevention of pregnancy
To prevent pregnancy
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Agile Therapeutics, Inc. (2024). Twirla- levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol patch [package insert]. DailyMed.
American Cancer Society. (2023). What is cervical cancer?
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2023). Abnormal uterine bleeding.
French, V. (2023). What you should know about breakthrough bleeding with birth control. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Ludmann, P. (2022). Melasma: Causes. American Academy of Dermatology Association.
National Cancer Institute. (2018). Oral contraceptives and cancer risk.
Nelson, A. L., et al. (2021). Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol transdermal delivery system: Phase 3 clinical trial results. Contraception.
Tholey, D. (2023). Cholestasis. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
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