Qlaira
Qlaira is an oral contraceptive informally known as “the pill.” This combined contraceptive pill contains estradiol and dienogest, which are synthetic forms of the two female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
Qlaira is a combined contraceptive pill marketed by Bayer Schering Pharma. It is the first oral contraceptive to use estradiol, a synthetic version of oestrogen, as a component. The synthetic version of progesterone used in Qlaira is dienogest. Both of these synthetic hormones are recognised by the body in the same way as their naturally occurring counterparts. Qlaira is available in strips of 28 tablets that protect against pregnancy for one menstrual cycle.
How Does Qlaira Work?
The estradiol and dienogest contained in Qlaira is efficiently absorbed by the body and recognised as oestrogen and progesterone, the two female sex hormones responsible for the timing of the menstrual cycle. A normal cycle is triggered by the levels of these hormones in the body. Qlaira keeps hormone levels high, fooling a woman’s body into acting as if ovulation has already taken place. This has three primary effects that help to prevent pregnancy:
- Mature eggs are not released by the ovaries. Any eggs released are immature and unable to be fertilised.
- The uterine lining is not prepared for egg implantation.
- A mucus plug forms near the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Qlaira Dosage
Qlaira comes in packs of 28 colour-coded pills of different doses required at different times during the cycle. The pills contained in one pack are as follows:
- 2 dark yellow tablets with 3 mg estradiol
- 5 light red tablets with 2 mg estradiol and 2 mg dienogest
- 17 light yellow tablets with 2 mg estradiol and 3 mg dienogest
- 2 dark red tablets with 1 mg estradiol
- 2 white placeholder tablets containing no active ingredients
How Often is Qlaira Taken?
Qlaira is a daily medication. One pill is taken each day. The specific pill taken is according to the dosage schedule. Qlaira is normally begun on the first day of menstruation and taken as follows:
- Days 1 – 2: dark yellow
- Days 3 – 7: light red
- Days 8 – 17: light yellow
- Days 18 – 24: light yellow
- Days 25 – 26: dark red
- Days 27 – 28: white
How Effective is Qlaira?
Qlaira is a very effective form of birth control. According to studies, this combined contraceptive pill has a Pearl Index range of 0.51 to 1.59, which means that out of 100 women taking Qlaira each year, approximately one will experience pregnancy.
Qlaira Side Effects
Some women taking Qlaira may experience side effects from the medication. Common side effects include the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Headache
- Weight gain
- Breast tenderness
The following side effects of Qlaira are considered uncommon:
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Hypertension
- Skin reactions
What Other Medications Affect Qlaira?
Some medications may cause the hormones in Qlaira to be metabolised more quickly. When taking any other medication with Qlaira, a doctor should be consulted. Some medications that affect Qlaira are as follows:
- Barbiturates
- Sedatives
- St. John’s wort
Who Should Not Take Qlaira
Qlaira is not made for everyone. Women who have any of the following conditions or a history of the following conditions should not take Qlaira:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Blood clots
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Smokers
- Obesity
- Migraines
- Liver disease
- Breast cancer
- Gallstones
