Key takeaways
Isibloom is a type of combination birth control that uses two hormones, desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol, to block an unwanted pregnancy in sexually active people with uteruses.
Each pill pack contains 3 weeks of orange “active” pills and 1 week of green “inactive pills” to complete a 1-month regimen of pregnancy prevention.
With perfect use, Isibloom can be up to 99% effective.
In addition to being an excellent birth control method, Isibloom can also mitigate painful menstrual symptoms like abdominal or uterine cramping.
While a superior method of birth control, Isibloom must be coupled with condoms to lower your risk of contracting an STD/STI.
Some people are not advised to use Isibloom, such as individuals with a preexisting blood clotting disorder or a liver condition.
Isibloom birth control 101
Are you on the pill or want to be? Perhaps after using Nuvaring birth control, you want to switch to a different option. You’re not alone. In fact, around 151 million people in the world choose oral contraception (i.e. “the pill”) as their primary method of birth control.
There are dozens of ways these little tablets differ. Dosage, hormones used, and length of regimen cycles all affect how birth control pills are used. Isibloom is one such example—a combination birth control pill with a 99% success rate at preventing unwanted pregnancy when used as directed.
In this guide, we’ll take a peek inside an Isibloom birth control pill pack, break down how to use it, and outline what to consider before choosing the best birth control pill for you.
What is Isibloom birth control?
Isibloom is an oral contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy in people with uteruses. It belongs to the category of combination birth controls, a type of contraceptive that uses more than 1 type of hormone to stymie ovulation.
The two hormones this combination pill uses are:
Ethinyl estradiol (0.03 mg)
When paired together, desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol inhibit the growth of your ova—or egg cells. This means an egg will not be fully-developed enough to admit a sperm, prohibiting fertilization and possible pregnancy.
When looking at a blister card of Isibloom pills, you’ll notice two types of tablets:
Orange, circular, “active” pills, which contain the hormones you’ll take to prevent pregnancy.
Green, circular, “inert” pills, which contain inactive ingredients like corn starch and iron oxides.
Like most combination oral contraceptives, you’ll take one Isibloom tablet daily at the same time each day.
You’ll be protected from pregnancy either immediately or 1 week after the start of your period, depending on when you begin your regimen (more on this later).
What are the pros and cons of using Isibloom?
Whether you’re popping a Benadryl to offset allergies or getting started with a new birth control regimen, every pill comes with a set of benefits and potential pitfalls.
Let’s get you all caught up with Isibloom’s benefits and potential drawbacks.
Benefits of Isibloom birth control
There are three main benefits of using Isibloom birth control:
More comfortable periods – Isibloom can help to soothe painful period symptoms. With Isibloom, you may see less menstrual bleeding, a more even cycle, and alleviated period cramps.
Disease protection – Isibloom may contribute to a lower likelihood of certain reproduction-related illnesses. Studies have shown that the incidence of fibroadenomas (breast tumors), acute pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometrial or ovarian cancer are reduced with the use of oral contraceptives like Isibloom.
Reproductive health – Isibloom may help to offset the development of female reproductive abnormalities. People takingIs ibloom have a lower rate of developing cysts in their ovaries and of ectopic pregnancy, wherein a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus.
Potential disadvantages of Isibloom birth control
While Isibloom has plenty going for it, you should be aware of the following potential drawbacks:
Increased risk of heart attack, blood clot, and high blood pressure - Taking Isibloom, Vienva birth control, or any other oral contraceptive increases your risk of developing these diseases.
Not suitable for patients with impaired liver function – Oral contraceptives are formulated to be metabolized within a certain time frame to be effective. Because your liver plays an essential role in your metabolism, having a preexisting liver condition may lessen Isibloom’s ability to prevent pregnancy.
May interfere with other drug regimens – Birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol may interfere with other medications you may be taking. Individuals undergoing thyroid hormone therapy should have regular checkups with their healthcare provider to make sure their dosage doesn’t need to be adjusted.
In short: if you’re actively taking any other medications, always talk to your doctor before trying Isibloom birth control.
Who should not use Isibloom?
The Isibiloom combination pill is appropriate for most sexually-active individuals with uteruses whose primary concern is offsetting pregnancy.
That said, there are some people whose health may be put at risk with its use:
Cigarette or tobacco smokers – Cigarette smokers are at high risk if they choose to begin a birth control like Isibloom. Smokers are more likely to experience a stroke, heart attack, or death when taking Isibloom, with an elevated risk over the age of 35. Moreover, the more heavily you smoke, the higher the probability of severe health consequences.
People with a history of vascular disease – Individuals with a history or current diagnosis of vascular disease and thrombotic (blood clotting) disorders aren’t advised to use Isibloom as a birth control method. Rather than take a combination type of birth control, patients with these conditions will lower their risk considerably if they opt for a progestin-only contraceptive.
How to use Isibloom
It’s critical to use Isibloom birth control as instructed to secure its pregnancy-prevention properties. Once prescribed, it is recommended that patients start the birth control the day they receive it. You’ll need to take Isibloom every day, at the same time, to avoid having to use backup birth control methods.
There are three ways to get started with Isibloom:
Start the day you receive your prescription - The best choice is to start using Isibloom the day you receive your prescription. If you aren’t starting it on Day 1 of your period, you’ll need to use backup contraception, such as condoms, for the first 7 days.
Start on the first day of your cycle – If you start Isibloom on Day 1 of your period, you’ll be protected from pregnancy from the get-go. Your first dose will be an orange tablet—and for the next 21 days, all of your daily tablets will be orange. On your 22nd day, you’ll take a green tablet for your 4th week—your final lap around the Isibloom blister card until you start the next one.
Start on the Sunday after your period begins – Although it is recommended to start the day you receive your prescription, your third option is to start Isibloom on the first Sunday after your period begins (yep, even if it started at 4 am on Saturday). You’ll take your orange tablets for 3 weeks, then start up with your green tablets on Day 22. Remember—if you launch your Isibloom regimen on your first Sunday post-period, you’ll have to use a backup pregnancy-prevention method for the first week you’re on Isibloom.
Many people are eager to start up with birth control after they’ve recently given birth to a baby. Bear in mind that an Isibloom regimen cannot be commenced until 4 weeks after you’ve given birth. If you get back on birth control prematurely, you’ll be at a higher risk of blood clots, so mark your calendar and sit tight until it’s safe to use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Everybody makes mistakes from time to time. If you accidentally ignored your “Isibloom O’Clock” reminder on your phone, there are ways to avoid disrupting your coverage.
Here’s how to get back on track:
Scenario 1: You missed 1 orange pill – If you missed 1 active pill, take it as soon as you remember. Your next pill should be taken at your typical time slot to get back on your normal schedule. While this means you may take 2 pills in a single day, you won’t experience any adverse effects if you double that day’s dose (just don’t make it a regular thing!).
Scenario 2: You missed 2 orange pills – If you miss 2 orange pills in the 1st or 2nd week of your regimen, take 2 pills at the time you realize your slip and 2 more pills the following day. After that, proceed with your normal protocol (1 pill per day)—and be sure to use another form of birth control (like condoms) if you have penetrative sex for 1 week afterwards.
Scenario 3: You missed 3+ orange pills – If you miss 3 or more pills on your 3rd week, recovering your protection will depend on when you started your Isibloom regimen. Day 1 starters must discard their entire Isibloom blister card and start a new one the day they remember. Sunday starters must continue their regimen (1 pill per day) until next Sunday comes around, then begin a new blister card. You are at risk of pregnancy if you do not use another method of birth control for 1 week following your slip-up. You may also notice you’ve skipped your period this month. If you do, make sure to confirm you get it the second month after your missed pill—if you miss another period, you might be pregnant.
Scenario 4: You missed 1+ green pills – Since green Isibloom pills contain no active ingredients, your hormonal levels won’t be disrupted if you miss one. However, you must chuck the green pills you missed to keep the timing of your regimen accurate. You will not need a supplementary method of birth control for missed green pills.
When it comes to Isibloom birth control, timing is everything. If you tend to be forgetful, use a planner or calendar to mark when you start each new pill card, so you stay protected against pregnancy, even if you fumble the ball (hey, it happens).
Isibloom effectiveness
Let’s see how Isibloom birth control compares as a method of pregnancy vs. STD prevention.
Pregnancy
Oral contraceptives like Isibloom are one of the most effective pregnancy prevention methods out there.
With perfect use, the failure rate of Isibloom is approximately 1%. That means it’s 99% effective when you follow the directions to the letter. Even if you factor in human error, you’ll still be protected against pregnancy 95% of the time.
STDs
While Isibloom is excellent at warding off unwanted pregnancy, it cannot protect against STDs/STIs or HIV (AIDS). This means that you’ll need to use a condom (and ensure you and your partner are tested!) to reduce your risk.
What are the side effects of Isibloom?
Isibloom birth control may present with some mild side effects.
Some common ones include:
Typically, these moderate (if a little annoying) side effects will die down after you’ve been taking Isibloom for 3 months.
That said, every medication has its risks. Isibloom’s serious potential side effects are:
High blood pressure – In some cases, people who take Isibloom may experience hypertension (high blood pressure). If this occurs, you’ll need to stop taking Isibloom immediately to normalize your blood pressure.
Blood clots – While the risk rate is quite low, most oral contraceptives that contain estrogen carry the potential for blood clotting—particularly in the legs, lungs, heart, and brain. If you have a family history of thrombosis, you are at higher risk for developing blood clots that could lead to severe consequences like stroke or death.
Liver tumors – Estrogens contained in many oral contraceptives have been linked to liver complications. Though rare, this can sometimes lead to the growth of liver tumors, which can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with a preexisting condition related to vascular or liver health, talk to your healthcare provider before taking Isibloom.
Get Isibloom Birth Control with The Pill Club.
Isibloom is an excellent choice of birth control if you’re weighing your options in the world of oral contraception.
Gearing up to join the millions-strong ranks of people using “the pill” as their birth control method of choice? You’ll need a team of sexual health experts to rally around and offer support and counsel as you transition to your new protocol.
At The Pill Club, we provide:
Telemedicine consultations to help you decide which methods of protection are best suited for you
Prescription fulfillment services to get you set up with birth control in 49 states, paid for by insurance or one of our affordable payment plans
Monthly shipments of your prescription—and goodie bags chock full of comforts for any ups and downs you experience during your monthly menstrual cycle
Sexual health may constantly be in flux, but the support network you have behind you shouldn’t ever be. Consider The Pill Club your constant, connecting you with the resources and knowledge you deserve to make empowered choices about your sexual and overall health.
To enroll and learn more about what we offer, visit our homepage.
Reviewed By: Jessica Barra, FNP - Family Nurse Practitioner
At The Pill Club, our goal is to provide the most up-to-date, objective, and research-based information to help readers make informed decisions. Articles are written by experienced contributors; they are grounded in research and evidence-based practices. All information has been fact-checked and extensively reviewed by our team of experts to ensure content is accurate and on par with current industry standards. Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.