I have been on LoSeasonique now for 5 months. I switched at my last annual, because while taking Alesse, my periods had become a nuisance. Since having my daughter, I had requested to be on a low hormone birth control, because I didn’t want it to cause me to gain weight. The nurse recommended Alesse, so I took it for about a year. My periods were extremely heavy and long on Alesse, and they had never been before. I would normally have short (4 day) periods and they weren’t light, but they weren’t heavy either. So after seeing all the commercials for Seasonique, and only having 4 periods a year, I decided I would sacrifice my “low hormone” birth control for one that will allow me more menstrual freedom. But I got a pleasant surprise when I popped the question to my doctor. Here is what I learned about Seasonique.
I initially asked about Seasonique and my doctor started telling me the benefits of taking it. Then he looked at my chart to see what birth control I was currently taking, and after noticing it was a pill with a low dosage of hormones, he told me about LoSeasonique. LoSeasonique is a low hormone birth control pill that will not cause weight gain, and allow you to have only 4 periods a year. Sounds like a dream! He gave me a sample pack, which consists of a 3 month supply. As with any birth control, typical side effects include bloating, cramps, and nausea.
When I began taking it, I spotted very lightly for about 3 days. I didn’t experience any cramps or bloating, but I hadn’t on my other birth control either. On my third month, when I was about 2 weeks into the 3rd month, I spotted for another 3 days, and about a week after that, I got my period. It was very light and lasted about 4 days. Being in my 5th month of taking LoSeasonique, I can say that I am extremely satisfied with the results. I haven’t had any random spotting since getting my period. But as I am approaching my sixth months supply (last one in the pack), I can’t help but think of the one pretty big downfall of LoSeasonique, the price.
Since I got my first 3 month supply free from my doctor, I didn’t have to worry about going every month and getting my birth control prescription filled. Also, when I first had gotten the LoSeasonique from my doctor, he did warn me that there was no generic drug option and that it tended to be pretty expensive. He didn’t say just how expensive though. So being as naive as I am, I thought since my old birth control cost me $5 a month, expensive must have meant $20-$30, maybe $40. Boy, was I wrong! I went to pick up my prescription, and when the pharmacist told me it would be 90 some dollars, I questioned whether they had applied my insurance, which covers 60% of all my prescriptions. He said that my insurance covered over $100 of it and I owed the rest, which was $97. I suppose the luxury of having only 4 light periods a year comes with a price. Approximately a $400 a year price, and that is with insurance.
So as much as I love LoSeasonique, I think it may be time to sit and evaluate which is more beneficial: only having 4 light and easy periods a year, or only paying $5 a month for birth control. I recommend LoSeasonique to anyone who can afford it. It is by far the best birth control I have tried and I wish it weren’t so expensive! As for now, I feel it is worth it, and I will continue to pay the price for a more liberated menstrual cycle!
