What Is Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day?

Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day is a combination oral contraceptive (birth control pill) manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma. It is a generic equivalent of the brand-name drug Loestrin Fe 1/20.

Each 28-day pack contains:

• 21 active tablets with norethindrone acetate (1 mg) and ethinyl estradiol (20 mcg) — synthetic versions of the hormones progesterone and estrogen
• 7 non-hormone tablets containing ferrous fumarate (75 mg of iron), taken during the placebo week to maintain the daily pill-taking habit and provide supplemental iron

Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day is primarily prescribed to:

• Prevent pregnancy when taken as directed
• Regulate menstrual periods for more predictable cycles
• Reduce menstrual cramps and period pain
• Manage acne in some patients

How Does Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day Work?

Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day works through three primary mechanisms to prevent pregnancy:

• Ovulation suppression: The combination of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.
• Cervical mucus thickening: The hormones thicken the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach and fertilize an egg.
• Endometrial changes: The uterine lining becomes thinner, reducing the likelihood of implantation.

The "Fe" in the name refers to the ferrous fumarate (iron) in the 7 placebo tablets. These iron tablets do not have a contraceptive effect — they help prevent iron deficiency, which can be a concern for women with heavy menstrual bleeding, and help maintain the daily habit of taking a pill.

When taken correctly (one pill at the same time every day), combination oral contraceptives like Aurovela Fe 1/20 are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. With typical use, effectiveness is around 91%.

What Doses Are Available for Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day?

• Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day — Norethindrone acetate 1 mg / Ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg (21 active tablets) + Ferrous fumarate 75 mg (7 placebo tablets)

Aurovela Fe 1/20 is available in one strength configuration only. A related product, Aurovela Fe 1.5/30, contains a higher dose of both hormones (norethindrone acetate 1.5 mg / ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg) and is a separate medication.

How Hard Is It to Find Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day in Stock?

Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day scores a 55 out of 100 on our findability scale, meaning it can be intermittently difficult to find at certain pharmacies. The drug is still actively manufactured by Aurobindo Pharma and is not on the FDA Drug Shortage list. However, several major chain pharmacies — including CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid — have deprioritized Aurovela Fe 1/20 on their formularies in favor of other norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol generics.

The result: your local chain pharmacy may tell you it's "discontinued" or "unavailable," even though it's still in production. Independent pharmacies and mail-order services generally have better access, as they can order directly from distributors like McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen.

If you're struggling to find Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day, try using Medfinder to locate pharmacies near you that have it in stock, or ask your prescriber about switching to an equivalent generic like Junel Fe 1/20 or Microgestin Fe 1/20.

Who Can Prescribe Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day?

Several types of healthcare providers can prescribe Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day:

• OB/GYNs (Obstetrician-Gynecologists) — the most common prescribers of oral contraceptives
• Primary care physicians — family medicine and internal medicine doctors
• Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
• Telehealth providers — many online services specialize in contraceptive prescriptions
• Planned Parenthood clinicians — available on a sliding-fee scale

In some states, pharmacists can prescribe hormonal contraceptives directly without a separate doctor visit. Check your state's laws or ask your local pharmacist.

If you need a new prescription, Medfinder can help you find a provider near you.

Is Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day a Controlled Substance?

No. Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day is not a controlled substance. It is not classified under any DEA schedule. Oral contraceptives do not have abuse potential and are not subject to the prescribing restrictions that apply to controlled substances.

This means Aurovela Fe 1/20 can be prescribed with standard refills, transferred between pharmacies easily, and does not require special monitoring or triplicate prescriptions.

Common Side Effects of Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day

Like all combination oral contraceptives, Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day may cause side effects. Most are mild and often improve after the first 2–3 months of use:

• Nausea — especially when first starting; taking the pill with food or at bedtime can help
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting — common in the first 1–3 cycles
• Bloating or weight changes
• Mood changes — including irritability or mild depression in some patients
• Decreased libido
• Constipation — may be related to the ferrous fumarate (iron) placebo tablets

Serious side effects are rare but include blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), stroke, heart attack, and liver problems. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe leg pain, chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, severe headache, or vision changes.

Smoking significantly increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects. Aurovela Fe 1/20 should not be used by women over 35 who smoke.

Alternative Medications to Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day

If you can't find Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day or need a different option, several alternatives are available:

AB-Rated Generic Equivalents (Same Active Ingredients)

These contain the exact same hormones at the same doses and are considered interchangeable by the FDA:

• Junel Fe 1/20 — manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, widely available at most chain pharmacies
• Microgestin Fe 1/20 — manufactured by Mayne Pharma, strong availability and long market history
• Blisovi Fe 1/20 — manufactured by Lupin Pharmaceuticals, increasingly available
• Larin Fe 1/20 — manufactured by Novitium Pharma, available through most distributors
• Gildess Fe 1/20 — manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals

Brand-Name Equivalent

• Loestrin Fe 1/20 — the original brand-name version (significantly more expensive than generics)

Different Formulations

• Lo Loestrin Fe — lower estrogen dose (10 mcg ethinyl estradiol), for patients who need ultra-low estrogen
• Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol combinations — different progestin (e.g., Levlen, Seasonique)
• Non-oral contraceptives — NuvaRing (vaginal ring), Xulane (patch), hormonal IUDs (Mirena, Kyleena)

Drug Interactions with Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day

Several medications can reduce the effectiveness of Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day or interact with its components:

• Anticonvulsants — Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, topiramate, and felbamate can reduce contraceptive effectiveness by increasing hormone metabolism
• Antibiotics — Rifampin (rifampicin) significantly reduces effectiveness; most other antibiotics do not, despite common belief
• HIV medications — Some protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors can affect hormone levels
• St. John's Wort — This herbal supplement can reduce contraceptive effectiveness
• Thyroid medications — Oral contraceptives may increase thyroid-binding globulin, potentially requiring dose adjustments
• Lamotrigine — Oral contraceptives can decrease lamotrigine levels, potentially affecting seizure control
• Iron supplements — The ferrous fumarate in placebo tablets provides supplemental iron; avoid taking additional iron supplements during the placebo week without medical guidance

Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you take. If you're prescribed a medication that interacts with oral contraceptives, your provider may recommend a backup method of birth control.

Final Thoughts on Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day

Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day is a safe, effective, and affordable combination oral contraceptive that has been used by millions of women. While finding it in stock at chain pharmacies has become more challenging in recent years, the drug is still manufactured and available — it's a distribution and formulary issue, not a safety or supply concern.

If you're having trouble finding Aurovela Fe 1/20 28 Day:

• Use Medfinder to check pharmacy stock near you
• Try independent pharmacies, which often have more flexibility in ordering
• Ask your prescriber about equivalent generics like Junel Fe 1/20 or Microgestin Fe 1/20
• Use discount coupons from SingleCare or GoodRx to save up to 80% on the cash price

With the right tools and a little persistence, you can find your birth control and stay on track with your reproductive health.