Drospirenone/Ethinyl Estradiol (Oral)

Drospierenone/Ethinyl Estradiol is an oral contraceptive that sexually active women take in order to prevent pregnancy. This medication uses female hormones to help protect the body against pregnancy. It thickens the cervical muscle to make it more difficult for sperm to reach eggs, stops ovulation, and makes the uterus wall thinner to stop fertilized eggs from implanting.

Side Effects/Warnings

This medication does not protect against AIDS or other STDs, so sexually active women should use other forms of protection to ensure they don’t get these diseases.

This medication increases the risk of a stroke, especially in women who smoke heavily. Women who are chain smokers or who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day should not use this medication until they have stopped smoking because smoking while on the medication greatly increases the risk of stroke. Women over the age of 35 are also at increased risk for stroke while on this medication even if they don’t smoke.