Skyla IUD and Varivax

• Generic Name: levonorgestrel
• Dosage Forms: intrauterine device
• Other Brand Names: Skyla, Kyleena, Liletta, Mirena, Aftera, EContra EZ, EContra One-Step, Fallback Solo, My Choice, My Way, New Day, Next Choice One Dose, Opcicon One-Step, Plan B One-Step, React, Take Action, My Way, Next Choice

Skyla contains levonorgestrel, a female hormone that can cause changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Skyla intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, flexible plastic T-shaped device. This device is placed in the uterus where it slowly releases the hormone to prevent pregnancy for 3 years. (Other types of levonorgestrel intrauterine systems release different amounts of hormone and are used for different lengths of time.)

Skyla can be used whether you have had children or not. It should not be used during pregnancy.

Levonorgestrel is a progestin hormone and does not contain estrogen. The Skyla IUD releases levonorgestrel in the uterus, but only small amounts of the hormone reach the bloodstream. Skyla should not be used as emergency birth control.

• Generic Name: varicella virus vaccine
• Dosage Forms: injection, powder, lyophilized, for suspension
• Other Brand Names: Varivax

Varicella (commonly known as chickenpox) is a common childhood disease that causes fever, skin rash, and a breakout of fluid-filled blisters on the skin. Most people who receive this vaccine will not get chickenpox, or will get only a mild case and will recover faster.

Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can be serious or even fatal in young infants and in adults. It can lead to severe skin infection, breathing problems, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can develop herpes zoster (also called shingles) later in life, which causes painful blisters, skin infections, severe nerve pain, and hearing or vision problems, which may last for months or years.

Chickenpox is spread from person to person through the air, or by coming into contact with the fluid from a chickenpox blister.

Varicella virus vaccine is used to help prevent these diseases in adults and children who are at least 12 months old.

This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the virus or a protein from the virus, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Like any vaccine, varicella virus vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.