What are the ingredients in Lo Loestrin Fe (and what does “peg” mean here)?
Lo Loestrin Fe is an oral birth control pill that contains active hormones plus iron tablets in the “placebo” days. The key ingredients are the hormones ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate, and it includes ferrous fumarate (iron) in the placebo/iron days. [1]
The term “peg” is not one of the typical core ingredients listed for Lo Loestrin Fe. In some contexts, people use “PEG” to mean polyethylene glycol, an excipient found in many medications (as a coating, binder, or preservative). If you saw “PEG” on a specific label you have (or on an ingredient list/ingredient-image), the exact PEG type (for example, PEG 3350, PEG 400, etc.) depends on the manufacturer’s formulation for that exact product/lot. To confirm precisely, check the full ingredient section on your specific package insert or bottle label and tell me exactly what the “PEG” line says.
What hormone ingredients are in Lo Loestrin Fe?
Lo Loestrin Fe’s active hormone ingredients are:
- Ethinyl estradiol (estrogen component)
- Norethindrone acetate (progestin component)
It also includes iron (ferrous fumarate) during the placebo/iron days. [1]
How to check the exact “PEG” ingredient on your specific bottle
Because inactive ingredients can vary by manufacturer/formulation, the most reliable way to identify “PEG” is:
1. Look at the “Inactive ingredients” section in the package insert, or
2. Look at the full ingredient list printed on your bottle/box, including any “PEG” entries.
If you paste the exact “PEG” text from your label (e.g., “PEG-…”, “polyethylene glycol …”), I can tell you what it is and what it typically means in pills.
Is Lo Loestrin Fe the same as other Lo/Ops (Loestrin) products?
Not necessarily. Different Loestrin formulations can have different hormone doses and different inactive ingredients. If you meant a different Loestrin product (for example, Loestrin 24 Fe vs Lo Loestrin Fe), the ingredient list and any “PEG” excipient may differ.
Source
[1] https://www.drugs.com/lo-loestrin-fe.html