What type of pill is Apri?
Apri is a combination birth control pill that combines two hormones, which is why it’s called a “combined oral contraceptive pill” or COCP. It’s primarily prescribed to prevent pregnancy, but it’s also used to help with acne and to regulate periods.
How does Apri work?
Apri works in three ways to protect you from becoming pregnant.
The birth control pill affects ovulation. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary. The pill might stop ovulation completely but it’s not a guarantee.
Apri has an effect on the mucus in your cervix too. When you’re using the pill, it thickens the mucus so it’s harder for sperm to get through, and then reach an egg.
The hormones in Apri also impact the uterine lining. This lining, when you aren’t using hormonal birth control, builds up naturally over the month, and when it comes away, you have your period. But when you’re using Apri, this lining is much thinner and your period tends to be a lot lighter than normally.
How effective is Apri?
If you use it exactly as instructed, Apri is over 99% effective. This means that fewer than one in 100 women using it over a whole year will get pregnant.
The effectiveness of Apri will drop when the pill is taken typically, which includes the occasional late or missed pill, to around 91% (so nine in 100 women per year using the pill typically will get pregnant).
What are the other benefits of taking Apri?
Apri is primarily a birth control pill. But some women do find it helpful for acne.[1] It’s also less likely than some other pills to affect your sex drive, or cause bloating, vaginal dryness, headaches or fuller breasts.
It’s also in the middle of the range for causing progestogenic or estrogenic side effects, so many women will find it gives them a good balance for controlling menstrual symptoms like heavy bleeding during periods, or water retention.
How long does it take Apri to become effective?
When you first start taking Apri as your method of birth control, it can take around seven days for the pill to become effective (unless you take it on day 1 of your period).
So when you first start taking Apri, you should use a barrier method of birth control like condoms or a diaphragm whenever you have sex.
How much estrogen does Apri contain?
Apri has 30mcg (micrograms) of ethinyl estradiol, which is a synthetic version of estrogen, the natural hormone in your body. It also contains 150mg of desogestrel, which is a synthetic form of progesterone, another hormone found naturally in your body.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
