Xulane and Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and More
Xulane (norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription drug used to prevent pregnancy. It comes as a patch you wear on your skin. Xulane may be safe if used during early pregnancy, but it’s not considered safe to use while breastfeeding.
Boxed warnings
Xulane has boxed warnings about the following risks. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
Risk of serious blood clots if used by people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more: Xulane should not be used by people who have a BMI of 30 or more. This could lead to serious blood clots in the deep veins or lungs.
Risk of serious cardiovascular problems if used by people who smoke: Xulane should not be used by people over 35 years of age who smoke. Cigarette smoking while using Xulane increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack.
To learn more about these warnings, talk with your doctor.Show More
Is Xulane safe to use during pregnancy?
If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Xulane is a safe option for you.
Xulane is a type of birth control used to prevent pregnancy. However, Xulane is not 100% effective at preventing pregnancy, and there is still a small chance that you could become pregnant while using this drug. Xulane tends to be less effective in people who weigh 198 pounds or more.
When Xulane is unintentionally used in early pregnancy, there’s no evidence of harmful effects on a fetus.
If you have more questions about Xulane and pregnancy, talk with your doctor.
Xulane and fertility
Xulane is a type of birth control used to prevent pregnancy. It does this by stopping your body from ovulating (releasing an egg from an ovary). Your body may take up to 3 months to start ovulating again after you stop using Xulane. But after a few months, you should be able to become pregnant.
Can I use Xulane while breastfeeding?
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects that Xulane could have on you or the child who is breastfed.
It is not recommended to use Xulane while breastfeeding. A small amount of hormones from the Xulane patch may pass into your breast milk and affect the child who is breastfed. Your doctor will likely recommend that you use a different birth control method until you’re ready to stop breastfeeding.
Note that Xulane can also decrease the amount of milk you produce.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
