Segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol (vaginal route)
Available brands
Annovera
About this medication
Segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol combination is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a flexible birth control vaginal system (in the shape of a ring) that contains two types of hormones, segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization (pregnancy) is prevented. No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective than vaginal systems. Discuss your options for birth control with your doctor. This medicine will not prevent HIV infection or other sexually transmitted diseases. It will not help as emergency contraception, such as after unprotected sexual contact. This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol combination have not been performed in the pediatric population. However, pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of this medicine in teenagers are not expected. This medicine may be used for birth control in teenage females but should not be used before the start of menstruation. Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol combination have not been performed in the geriatric population. This medicine is not indicated for use in elderly women. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, change some of the other medicines you take, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Use this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause unwanted side effects. This medicine is to be usedonly in the vagina. This combination medicine is contained in a vaginal system that is placed into your vagina. The vaginal system will slowly release small amounts of the medicine for your body to absorb. This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. This medicine is used in a 4 week cycle for 13 cycles (1 year). You may start using the vaginal system between the second and fifth day of your menstrual period, keeping it in place for 3 weeks. Once the vaginal system is in place inside your vagina, you should not be able to feel it. If you feel uncomfortable, it may not be inserted far enough. Gently push the vaginal system farther into your vagina. If you feel pain, talk to your doctor. The vaginal system may move down accidently. This can happen if you remove a tampon, during sex, or strain to have a bowel movement. Gently push it back into place. If the vaginal system comes all the way out, wash it with mild soap and warm water, pat it dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel, and put it back inside. Call your doctor if the vaginal system comes out several times. Remove the vaginal system after 3 weeks on the same day of the week and time it was inserted. During the 1-week break, you will usually have your menstrual period. Wash the vaginal system with mild soap and warm water, pat it dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel, and keep it inside the case that comes with it. Reinsert it after a week. While using this medicine, you may need to use an additional form of birth control method (eg, condom, spermicide) during the first 7 days to prevent pregnancy, especially if you have an irregular menstrual cycle or if you start using this vaginal system more than 5 days from your last menstrual bleeding. If you need to remove the vaginal system, hook your finger through it and pull it out. If you are switching from a combination hormonal method (eg, pills, patch) to Annovera™, start using this medicine on any day. Do not use this medicine after more than 7 hormone-free days. If you are switching from a progestin-only method (eg, progestin-only implant, injection, intrauterine system, pill) to Annovera™, start using it on the day after you used your last progestin-only pill, or on the day your implant or IUD is removed, or on the day you would have your next injection. You must also use an additional barrier method of birth control (eg, male condom with spermicide) for the first 7 days. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may change the amount of this medicine that is absorbed in the body. Do not use this medicine together with oil-based vaginal creams, gels, lubricants, or suppositories. Ask your doctor before you use other products or medicines into your vagina. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions. If the vaginal system has slipped out and it has been out for2 hours or less, wash it with mild soap and warm water, pat it dry with a clean cloth towel or paper towel, and reinsert it. You should still be protected from pregnancy. If the vaginal system has been out formore than 2 hours(including multiple removals), use an additional form of birth control (including condoms or spermicide) until the vaginal system has been in the vagina for 7 days in a row. If you forget to reinsert the vaginal system after the vaginal system-free week, use an additional form of birth control (including condoms or spermicide) until the vaginal system has been in the vagina for 7 days in a row. If you leave the vaginal system inside the vagina for more than 21 days, remove it for 7 days and then reinsert it for 21 days to go back to the regular schedule. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Do not use the vaginal system for more than 13 cycles (1 year). Place the used vaginal system inside the case that comes with it. Throw it in the trash. Do not flush the vaginal system down the toilet.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.