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Reviewed on June 25, 2025. by
Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Next review due on June 25, 2028.
Last updated on Jun 30, 2025.
Effective birth control pill.
Portia is a daily birth control pill containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol. It offers pregnancy protection immediately if taken on the first day of your period.
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Portia is a combined birth control pill that helps prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones: levonorgestrel, a synthetic progesterone, and ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic estrogen.
Both hormones work together to build up protection against pregnancy.
Is Portia a combined pill?
Portia is a combined birth control pill, meaning it contains two hormones. These hormones help prevent pregnancy by:
Thickening the cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg.
Thinning the uterus lining, making it difficult for the egg to implant.
Inhibiting the maturation of the egg.
Is Portia taken daily?
Yes, Portia contains 28 pills: 21 pink active pills and 7 white inactive pills, which contain no hormones.
You’ll take the 21 active pills first, immediately followed by 7 white inactive pills. This helps you maintain a consistent routine.
What are the white pills in Portia?
Portia 28 contains two types of pills:
21 pink active pills
7 white inactive pills
The white pills are placebo pills that are usually taken to help maintain a consistent routine. Missing the white pills won’t affect your pregnancy protection.
What doses of Portia are there?
Portia contains 0.15mg of levonorgestrel and 0.03mg of ethinyl estradiol.
If you prefer a lower-dose birth control pill, consider switching to Lutera and Aviane.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on June 25, 2025. Next review due on June 25, 2028.
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.
PortiaLevonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol
How to take Portia
Swallow a pill with some water, with or without a meal. It should be taken around the same time each day for it to be most effective.
It’s best to start Portia on day 1 of your period for immediate protection against pregnancy. Taking it on another day will mean you’ll have to use an additional form of contraception, like a condom, for the next 7 days, until the protection builds up.
If you’re switching from another type of birth control, check the package insert on what to do or contact your clinician.
Will I get my period on Portia?
While taking the 7 inactive pills, you’ll have something called a withdrawal bleed. This is similar to your period, but typically much lighter and shorter.
What to do if you miss Portia pills
If you miss a white pill, you’ll still be protected against pregnancy. These pills contain no active hormones, so missing them won’t affect your pregnancy protection.
If you miss a pink active pill, your protection will be reduced. You might need to use a barrier method of contraception, like a condom, for the next 7 days to improve your protection.
For more information, check the package insert.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell on June 25, 2025. Next review due on June 25, 2028.
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.
PortiaLevonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol
There are some things you need to watch out for when taking Portia, and not everyone can use it.
Here’s the official safety info. If there’s something you’re not sure about, let us know.
PortiaLevonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol
Portia: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Portia different from Levora?
Answer:
Portia and Levora contain the same active ingredients in the same amounts, so they are equally effective. The differences lie in the packaging, non-active ingredients and price.
Can Portia help with acne?
Answer:
One of the positive Portia side effects relates to skin conditions. Many women find that the combined pill can help treat acne effectively. In some cases, your doctor may even prescribe it specifically for acne.[2]
There’s no guarantee it’ll work for everyone though, and some women find that it actually makes acne worse. Ultimately, there’s no way of knowing who it will and won’t work for, so some trial and error is to be expected at the start of treatment.
Can I get Portia under another name?
Answer:
There are multiple birth control pills that have the same active ingredients in the same amounts, including: Seasonale, Jolessa, Quasense, Marlissa, Altavera, Levora, Kurvelo, Setlakin and Ayuna.
This means you can use any of these pills interchangeably, and they should all broadly have the same effect in your body.
How do I stop taking Portia?
Answer:
You can stop using Portia at any time. If you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s recommended that you wait until you’ve had one full menstrual cycle (and period) before trying to conceive. That way you can accurately track when the baby is due and where you are in your pregnancy.
Will I get a period while taking Portia?
Answer:
When you’re taking the white inactive pills, you’ll have withdrawal bleeding. This isn't exactly like your period, as it's caused by the lack of hormones rather than the absence of pregnancy. Also, withdrawal bleeding tends to be shorter, lighter and possibly less painful.
In the first few months, you might experience little bleeding while taking the pink active pills, but as your body adjusts to the additional hormones, it should stop.
If you are unsure whether your bleeding is normal or not, contact your doctor for advice.
Will Portia affect my weight?
Answer:
Studies have shown that there’s no link between hormonal birth control and weight changes, but that’s mostly because it’s so difficult to prove that a medication is responsible when there are so many factors to consider.[1]
Weight changes (increases or decreases) are listed as a possible side effect, so it’s possible that your weight might change in either direction when you start taking Portia.
Are there other pills that are similar to Portia?
Answer:
Portia is a generic form of Nordette, which means it contains the same active ingredients in the same amounts but is likely to be cheaper. There are other generic birth control pills with the same formula including Seasonale, Jolessa, Quasense, Introvale, Chateal EQ, Marlissa, Altavera, Levora, Lillow, Kurvelo, Levlen, Nordette, Setlakin and Ayuna.
Treated trusted source:
InformedHealth.org (2017).Contraception: Do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain? [online] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).
Our experts continually monitor new findings in health and medicine, and we update our articles when new info becomes available.
Why this page was updated on Jun 30, 2025
We reviewed the content on this page and made some structural changes to make it more reader-friendly and accessible.
Current version (Jun 30, 2025)
Edited by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Aug 01, 2022
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell, Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
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.
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Dr Alexandra Cristina Cowell
Writer & Clinical Content Reviewer
Cristina writes content for Treated, and reviews content produced by our other writers to make sure it’s clinically accurate.
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.
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