Common side effects of Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo include:

• Bleeding between periods
• Breast tenderness
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Fluid retention and swelling (edema) of the fingers or ankles
• Nausea
• Spotty darkening of the skin, particularly of the face (melasma)
• Vomiting
• Weight gain

Other possible side effects include:

• Appetite changes
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Hair loss on the scalp
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Rash
• Vaginal infection

These side effects usually subside within the first three months of treatment.

There are some serious side effects that may occur in rare cases with women taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo or other oral contraceptives. The risks increase with age and with heavy cigarette smoking. These serious risks include:

• Blood clots
• Blood vessel ruptures or blockages
• Gallbladder disease
• Heart attack
• High blood pressure
• Liver failure or liver tumors
• Possible breast cancer diagnoses or cancer of the reproductive organs
• Stroke