What Is Vienva 28 Day? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

Vienva 28 Day is a low-dose combination birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones — levonorgestrel (a progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen) — and is taken daily in a 28-day cycle. Here's a complete overview of what Vienva is, how to take it, and what to expect.

What Is Vienva 28 Day?

Vienva 28 Day is a combination oral contraceptive (COC) manufactured by Xiromed, LLC. It contains:

21 white active tablets: Each contains levonorgestrel 0.1 mg and ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg (20 mcg)

7 peach inactive tablets: Placebo pills that contain no active hormones

It is a monophasic pill, meaning every active tablet contains the same amount of each hormone throughout the 21-day active cycle. This is different from multiphasic pills, which vary hormone doses across the cycle. Vienva is also a low-dose pill — 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol is at the lower end of the dosing range, which tends to reduce estrogen-related side effects for many patients.

What Is Vienva 28 Day Used For?

Vienva's FDA-approved indication is the prevention of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential. It is not approved as emergency contraception and should not be used as a morning-after pill.

Many providers also use Vienva or equivalent combined OCs off-label for:

Regulating irregular periods

Reducing menstrual cramping (dysmenorrhea)

Managing endometriosis symptoms

Reducing acne (some COCs have formal FDA approval for acne; Vienva does not, but the class benefit is recognized)

How Effective Is Vienva 28 Day?

In clinical trials, Vienva (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol tablets) had an overall pregnancy rate of 0.84 per 100 woman-years. This included women who missed pills. When used perfectly (taken at the same time every day without any missed pills), Vienva is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. With typical use (accounting for occasional missed or late pills), about 5 in 100 women may become pregnant per year.

How Do You Take Vienva 28 Day?

Take one tablet daily, at the same time each day, for 28 consecutive days. Then immediately start a new pack the following day — do not wait any days between packs.

Days 1–21: Take one white active tablet daily.

Days 22–28: Take one peach placebo tablet daily. Withdrawal bleeding (your "period") typically occurs during this week.

When to start: Your provider will direct you to start on either Day 1 of your period (Day 1 Start) or the first Sunday after your period begins (Sunday Start). During the first cycle, use backup contraception (like condoms) for the first 7 days.

What If You Miss a Pill?

Miss 1 active (white) pill: Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time (you may take 2 pills in one day). No backup contraception needed.

Miss 2 active pills in a row: Take 2 pills as soon as you remember, then 2 pills the next day. Use backup contraception for 7 days. Consider emergency contraception if you had unprotected sex.

Miss 3+ active pills in a row: Start a new pack immediately and use backup contraception for 7 days. Discuss with your provider.

Is Vienva a Brand Name or Generic?

Vienva is technically a branded generic. The original brand-name pill with this formulation was Alesse (discontinued). Vienva is a generic version, meaning it contains the same active ingredients at the same dose as Alesse. Other equivalent branded generics include Aviane, Aubra EQ, Falmina, Lutera, and Afirmelle — all containing levonorgestrel 0.1 mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.02 mg.

Is Vienva 28 Day Right for You?

Vienva is appropriate for healthy, non-smoking females of reproductive age who do not have contraindications to combined hormonal contraceptives. It's a particularly good choice for patients who prefer a low-dose estrogen pill with a monthly withdrawal bleed cycle. Read our guides on Vienva side effects to get the full picture. And once you have your prescription, use medfinder to locate it in stock near you.