If you’re not currently taking an oral contraceptive, make an appointment with your healthcare provider to learn more about your options and if Femcon Fe is right for you. Femcon Fe is the only chewable birth control pill, and like all oral contraceptives, is available by prescription only.

Your healthcare provider is the best person to help you determine which Pill is best for you. You may be asked to come in for a visit before changing your prescription, but if you've had a checkup recently, your healthcare provider may feel comfortable prescribing a new pill without an appointment. In that case, ask to have the Femcon Fe prescription called into your local pharmacy, so you can enjoy the benefits of chewable Femcon Fe right away.

Before you start taking Femcon Fe or any time you have questions about using Femcon Fe, be sure to read these directions.

• Femcon Fe may be swallowed whole or chewed and swallowed. If it is chewed, you should drink a full glass (8 ounces) of liquid immediately after swallowing.
• Take one pill every day at the same time. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant.
• Many women have spotting or light bleeding, or may feel sick to their stomach during the first 1-3 packs of pills. If you have spotting or light bleeding or feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the Pill. The problem will usually go away. If it doesn't go away, check with your healthcare provider.
• Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take 2 pills to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
• If you have vomiting (within 3 to 4 hours after you take your pill), you should follow the instructions for what to do if you miss pills. If you have diarrhea or if you take certain medicines, including some antibiotics, or the herbal supplement St. John's Wort, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method of birth control (such as condoms or spermicide) until you check with your healthcare provider.
• If you have trouble remembering to take the Pill, talk to your healthcare provider about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
• If you have any questions or are unsure about this information, call your healthcare provider.

You have two options for when you can start taking your first pack of Femcon Fe. You can decide to start your pill on Day 1, the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You may want to consult with your healthcare provider as to which is the best day for you and your busy schedule. And, don't forget to pick a convenient, easy to remember time of day for taking your pill.

Once you decide on a start day, remove the Brief Summary from inside the prescription pouch. Place the label on the blister card in the designated location. Simply take your pill daily in the order indicated by the arrows on the blister card.

• Starting on Day 1 of your period
  If you choose Day 1 Start, take your first "active" white pill of the first pack during the first 24 hours of your period. And, you won't need to use a back-up method of birth control, since you are starting the Pill at the beginning of your period.
• Starting on Sunday
  If you choose a Sunday Start, take the first "active" white pill of the first pack on the Sunday after your period starts, even if you are still bleeding. If your period begins on Sunday, start the pack that same day.
  
  Make sure you use another method of birth control as a back-up method if you have sex any time from the Sunday you start your first pack until the next Sunday (7 days). Condoms or spermicide are good back-up methods of birth control.

Now that you've started Femcon Fe, all you have to do is take one pill at the same time every day until the pack is empty. Don't skip pills even if you are spotting or bleeding between monthly periods or feel sick to your stomach. And, don't skip pills even if you do not have sex very often. When you finish a pack of Femcon Fe, start the next pack on the day after your last brown "reminder" pill. Do not wait any days between packs.

When you switch from a different brand of pills to Femcon Fe, and if your previous brand had 21 pills, wait 7 days before starting Femcon Fe. If your previous brand had 28 pills, start taking Femcon Fe on the day after the last pill.

The Pill may not be as effective if you miss white "active" pills, and particularly if you miss the first few or the last few white "active" pills in a pack. If you miss the brown "placebo" pills there's no need to worry, you are still protected.

• What if I miss 1 white "active" pill?
  Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time. This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day. You don't need to use a back-up birth control method if you have sex.
• What if I miss 2 white "active" pills in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 of my pack?
  Take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day. Then take 1 pill a day until you finish the pack. You could become pregnant if you have sex during the 7 days after you restart your pills. You must use a non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms or spermicide) as a back-up for those 7 days.
• What if I miss 2 white "active" pills in a row in Week 3?
  If you are a Day 1 Starter: throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day. If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare provider because you might be pregnant. You could become pregnant if you have sex during the 7 days after restarting your pills. You must use a non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms or spermicide) as a back-up for the first 7 days after you restart your pills.
• What if I miss 3 or more white "active" pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks)?
  If you are a Day 1 Starter: throw out the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day. If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day. You may not have your period this month but this is expected. However, if you miss your period 2 months in a row, call your healthcare provider because you might be pregnant.
• What if I forget any of the 7 brown "reminder" pills in Week 4?
  Throw out the pills you missed. Keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is empty. You do not need a back-up method of birth control.

If you still feel unsure about what to do when you've missed a pill use a back-up method anytime you have sex, and keep taking one "active" (white) pill each day until you can reach your healthcare provider.

• Pregnancy after stopping the Pill
  There may be some delay in becoming pregnant after you stop using oral contraceptives, especially if you had irregular menstrual cycles before you used oral contraceptives. It may be advisable to postpone conception until you begin menstruating regularly once you have stopped taking the Pill and desire pregnancy. There does not appear to be any increase in birth defects in newborn babies when pregnancy occurs soon after stopping the Pill.
• Pregnancy due to pill failure
  If taken every day as directed, the incidence of pill failure resulting in pregnancy is approximately 1% per year (one pregnancy per 100 women per year), but more typical failure rates are about 5% per year. If pregnancy does occur, the risk to the fetus is minimal.