Qlaria is a type of birth control pill that compared to many other similar drugs contains a milder estrogen. This means that the pills have different content, which helps to create a hormonal cycle that is closer to the natural menstrual cycle. These types of contraception pills are especially used by women who want to alleviate severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding as well as being protected from pregnancy.
What’s on this page?
How does Qlaira work?
Qlaira is a combined drug which means that it contains two hormones. These are dienogest and estradiol that are synthetic versions of the female sex hormone estrogen and progestogen. The hormones are absorbed by the body and prevent pregnancies in different ways.
One of these ways the hormones are helping you from becoming pregnant is that they prevent ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no egg for the sperm to fertilize which makes a pregnancy impossible. This is the main function of Qlaira, but the body is also reacting in more ways to give even stronger protection. Aside from stopping ovulation the mucous membrane of the uterus becomes thicker which is giving the sperm a hard time to get through. This also impedes the eggs ability to stick to the membrane.
Pregnancy is thus averted in three ways, which contribute to the high protection that birth control pills are known for.
How safe is this method?
The pills are the most secure method to prevent unplanned pregnancies. If you follow the instructions according to the patient information leaflet the security is 99%1. If you do not follow the instructions, the safety is inhibited, so it is very important to follow the instructions closely. This contraception pill will only protect you from an unplanned pregnancy, but not from sexually transmitted diseases. This is why it is important to use a condom or femidom if you are having sex with a new partner.
How do I use it?
In comparison to most other birth control pills that are taken for 21 consecutive days with a seven-day break, you have to take Qlaira every day without break. Since the pills contain different amounts of hormones in different phases it is thus important to take the pills in the right order.
You can take the pills as per these instructions:
- Start your first dose of Qlaira on the first day of your period. Take one dark yellow pill for two days
- After this, take one medium red pill once a day for 5 days
- Take one light yellow pill once a day for 17 days
- Take a dark red pill once a day for 2 days
- Finally, take one white pill a day for 2 days
Qlaira and period bleeding? You will now experience menstrual bleeding as usual. You are still protected during this period.
After this round, you have ingested 28 pills and have gone through a full cycle. After this, you can start a new round. Be sure that you take the pill on approximately the same time every day. You could put on an alarm or take it when you wake up or when you go to bed if you have a rigid sleeping routine.
What happens if I forget to take a pill?
One of the challenges with using contraceptive methods like this one is that you must remember to take the pill every day at the same time of the day. If you forget a pill on your designated time, try to take it as soon as possible. If it is within 12 hours of your time slot you will still have the same high protection. If you take the pill as soon as possible you can continue with the routine as usual.
If more than 12 hours have passed since you should have taken the pill, you are no longer protected. Take the pill as soon as you remember even if it means that you have to take 2 pills without a significant time gap. Continue the pill routine as usual, but barrier protection such as a condom for the next 9 days.
What are the benefits of Qlaira?
There are many types of pills on the market, which gives you many different options to find the right one for you. The benefits of Qlaira are that it is sequenced, which means that it is mimicking the hormonal cycle as well as possible. This is better both for the environment and for the user. Another advantage compared to other birth control pills is that it makes heavy bleeding lighter och mitigates menstrual pains. If these things are a problem for you, it might be a good idea to try this type of pill since they are specifically helpful for this. You can find more about heavy periods here.
As previously described, this pill has to be taken every day for 28 days. This makes it easier for some people to remember it since you need a seven-day break for other pills2 such as Rigevidon.
Possible side effects
Hormonal contraceptives can cause side effects and because of this, it is only available to be purchased through a valid prescription. Most people will not experience any severe side effect, but most will experience some side effects. This is individual since not everyone experiences the same symptoms. During the first 3-6 months of using this drug, you might sense more side effects until the body has adjusted to the hormones.
The most common side effects are:
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Tender and tension in the breasts
- Headache
- Acne
- Distortion of the menstrual cycle
- Stomach pain
- Bleeding from the uterus
- Painful menstruation
- Decreased libido
- Premenstrual syndrome
In some cases, more severe side effects can arise, but this is not common. One of these consequences is a heightened risk of embolism, which accounts for most hormonal contraceptives. This means that people who already have a heightened risk of blood clots cannot use this drug. This is the case if you are over 35 years and have a smoking habit, are obese or have someone in your family who has experienced embolism.
Is this treatment for me?
Most adults with a uterus will be able to use Qlaira as a method for contraception. You are not recommended to use this drug if you have a heightened risk for embolism. This also accounts for high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, any type of cancer or if you have a severe case of diabetes. Some treatments and drugs are not recommended in combination with Qlaira.
Always tell your doctor all details regarding your health condition and the drugs you might be taking as of the moment so that your GP can make an informed decision on whether this treatment is suitable for you.
Can I buy Qlaira over-the-counter?
Qlaira is only available for you to buy if you have a valid prescription from a doctor. You can obtain this from an online clinic and through their consultation services and get a prescription.
Can I buy Qlaira online in the UK?
As soon as you have a valid prescription from the online clinic, you can order the drug online and have it sent to your home.
Qlaira price
One question that often arises is what the price of Qlaira is, but this varies from pharmacy to pharmacy. You can only buy Qlaria with a prescription from a doctor.
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