Apri vs. Lutera

See how Apri and Lutera compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Apri and Lutera are both low-dose combination birth control pills taken once daily in a 28-day cycle, differing mainly in which progestin they use.

  • Apri uses desogestrel while Lutera uses levonorgestrel, a difference that may affect clotting risk and androgenic side effects like acne.

  • Lutera's labeling includes specific breakthrough bleeding rates and an off-label use for cycle regulation, giving more documented data than Apri's labeling provides.

Apri vs. Lutera Drug Summary

Apri

Apri is a combination oral contraceptive containing desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol, prescribed to prevent pregnancy. It is taken as one tablet daily in a 28-day pack, with 21 active tablets followed by 7 inert ones.

Lutera

Lutera is a combination oral contraceptive containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol, prescribed to prevent pregnancy and sometimes used off-label to regulate menstrual cycles. It is taken as one tablet daily in a 28-day pack, with 21 active tablets followed by 7 inert ones.

Apri vs. Lutera Side Effects

Apri

Most common
headache (rate not quantified in labeling)
nausea (rate not quantified in labeling)
breakthrough bleeding/spotting (rate not quantified in labeling)
breast tenderness (rate not quantified in labeling)

Lutera

Most common
headache (reported in clinical use)
nausea (reported in clinical use)
breakthrough bleeding/spotting (30.5% Cycle 1, 18.2% Cycle 12)
breast tenderness/pain (reported in clinical use)

Apri vs. Lutera Dosage

Apri

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 1 active tablet daily Days 1-21
Maximum dose 1 inert tablet daily Days 22-28
Dose changes 1 increase Every 21 days

Lutera

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 1 tablet (0.1/0.02mg) daily Days 1-21
Maximum dose 1 inert tablet daily Days 22-28
Dose changes 1 increase Every 21 days

Apri vs. Lutera Indications

Apri

Apri is FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy in women who choose oral contraception. It is not approved to protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. It works like other combination pills by suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus.

  • Prevents pregnancy in women who choose oral contraception

  • Not approved for HIV or STI prevention

  • Contains desogestrel, a progestin with low androgenic activity

  • 28-day pack with 21 active and 7 inert tablets

Lutera

Lutera is FDA-approved to prevent pregnancy in women who elect to use oral contraception. It is also sometimes prescribed off-label to help regulate or lighten menstrual cycles. It is not approved for use before menarche, as emergency contraception, or in women over 65.

  • Prevents pregnancy in women who choose oral contraception

  • Off-label use for menstrual cycle regulation or lightening periods

  • Not approved before menarche, for emergency contraception, or over age 65

  • 28-day pack with 21 active and 7 inert tablets

Apri vs. Lutera Pros and Cons

Apri

Apri is a combination pill built around desogestrel, a progestin with minimal androgenic activity, and has been on the market since 1999. It carries the same class-wide warnings about blood clots and cardiovascular risk as other combination pills, with some data suggesting a slightly higher clotting signal tied to its progestin type.

Pros

  • Desogestrel progestin has minimal androgenic activity, which may reduce acne or oily-skin side effects

  • FDA-approved since 1999, giving it one of the longer track records among low-dose combination pills

  • No specific postpartum-use restriction called out in its FDA labeling

Cons

  • Some studies link desogestrel-containing pills to a higher blood clot risk than levonorgestrel-based options like Lutera

  • Has no FDA-recognized off-label use for menstrual cycle regulation

  • Labeling does not report specific percentages for common side effects like breakthrough bleeding, making symptom expectations less clear

Lutera

Lutera pairs levonorgestrel, one of the most studied progestins in birth control, with a low dose of ethinyl estradiol, and has been approved since 2001. Its labeling includes specific breakthrough bleeding rates and a clear postpartum warning, giving prescribers more detailed data to work from.

Pros

  • Uses levonorgestrel, a progestin not linked to the added clotting risk signal seen with desogestrel

  • Often used off-label to regulate or lighten menstrual cycles, adding flexibility beyond contraception

  • Clinical trials report specific breakthrough bleeding rates (up to 30.5% in cycle one, dropping to about 18% by cycle twelve), giving clearer expectations

Cons

  • Specifically flagged as not recommended during the postpartum period due to increased clot risk

  • Higher documented early-cycle breakthrough bleeding rate than Apri's unquantified rate

  • Not approved for use before menarche or in women over 65, narrowing who can use it

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