Estarylla

What is Estarylla?

Estarylla (pronounced “es-tar-ill-ah”) is a combined hormonal birth control. It’s a pill you take every day at the same time. In combined birth control pills like Estarylla, you’ve got two hormones: an estrogen and a progestin. These trick your body into not doing the things it normally would to be pregnancy-ready.

Is Estarylla a combination pill?

Yes. Estarylla contains two hormones called norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol. These work in the body like natural hormones called progesterone and estrogen.

By altering the normal hormonal cycle your body goes through every month, they basically trick your ovaries into not releasing an egg. They also stop blood from settling on the uterine wall, so it’s harder for it to get thicker and accept a fertilized egg for implantation. Something else they do is make cervical fluid thicker. This makes it more difficult for sperm to get through to an egg.

Estarylla and Tri-Estarylla: What’s the difference?

Estarylla is a monophasic pill. This means that the 21 active pills in the pack contain the same level of hormones in them. In Estarylla, norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol are delivered into the body in a continuous dose over the active three weeks. The last 7 tablets in each pack are inactive pills (spacers to help you make sure you start taking the next batch of active pills on the right day).

Tri-Estarylla is a triphasic pill. The level of norgestimate in this pill rises from week to week, over the 21-day active pill period. These types of pills can be better for some women who experience progestogenic side effects (for example tender breasts or vaginal dryness) early in the month on a continuous dose.

Tri-Lo-Estarylla is very similar to Tri-Estarylla, only the estrogen is a little lower. This is a good alternative for women who have a slight estrogen sensitivity or who have experienced estrogenic side effects (for example nausea or bloating) on a higher dose.

How to take Estarylla

Estarylla comes in packs of 28 tablets. Take your pill at the same time each day. If you’re not already taking a birth control pill or using hormonal birth control, you can start taking Estarylla on the day you get your period (Day 1 start), or on the first Sunday following your period. You’re covered against pregnancy from the first day of taking it if you go for a Day 1 start. If you’re choosing a Sunday start, you’ll need to use condoms for the first seven days of use to stay protected. Switching from another pill? Take your first Estarylla on the same day your other new pill pack would have started. If you’re switching from the ring or the patch, start on the day that your next ring or patch would have been inserted or applied.

How effective is Estarylla?

Pretty darn. When you take Estarylla right, it’s over 99% effective. This means that Estarylla pregnancy rates for women who take it perfectly are less than one in 100, over 12 months of use. But as we all know, life happens. Forgetting a pill occasionally is pretty common. For typical, “real-world” use, the effectiveness of combined pills like Estarylla is around 91%. So we’re talking nine in 100 women getting pregnant over the course of a year.

Estarylla missed pill: What to do

If you forget to take a pill by more than 12 hours, it counts as a missed pill. Take a look at the package insert for guidance on what to do if this happens. If you’re still not sure, ask a doctor or pharmacist for help. If you miss one active pill in weeks one, two or three (displayed on the pill packet), take the pill as soon as you remember. Then take the next active pill at the same time you normally would. This can mean taking two pills in one day. Your protection shouldn’t be reduced if this happens. If you miss two active pills in week one or two, you should take two tablets on the day you remember and then another two the next day. After this, return to taking one pill daily until the pack is finished. You’ll need to make use of another birth control method, like condoms, for seven days following this. If you forget to take two active birth control tablets in the third week or you miss three or more active tablets in a row, you should continue to take one pill only every day until the next Sunday. On this day, you should discard the rest of the pill packet and start a fresh pack on this day. Use condoms in the seven days that follow this, or abstain from sex until a week has passed after the normal resumption of treatment.