Cilique comes in a strip of 21 pills, marked with each day of the week. You take Cilique every day for 21 days followed by a 7-day pill free break.
When taking Cilique, you should:
- Take the pill at the same time every day – it can be taken at any time as long as it’s at the same time each day.
- Make sure the first pill you take is labelled with the correct day of the week.
- Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip as this will make it easy for you to follow and identify any missed pills.
- Take one pill per day.
- Swallow each tablet whole with a glass of water if necessary.
After taking Cilique for 21 days, you will have a 7-day pill free break. During this week you will get a withdrawal bleed, like your period. You will still be protected from pregnancy during the 7-day break if you took the pills correctly in the week before the break.
After the 7-day break, begin taking a new strip of pills. You should start each strip on the same day every time.
When should I start taking Cilique?
You can begin taking Cilique at any time during your menstrual cycle, but depending on when you start taking it, you may be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you take it in the first 5 days of your period, you will be protected immediately.
If you begin taking Cilique after the first 5 days of your cycle, you will need to use another method of contraception for the first seven pill taking days.
Can I take Cilique without a break?
Yes, you can take Cilique every day without a break. This helps reduce side effects in some women. When you finish the strip of pills you are taking, you can start the next strip the following day without a break. While you are taking the second strip, you may experience some bleeding or spotting. Take the next strip (3rd strip) following the usual 7-day break.
What happens if you miss a Cilique pill?
If you miss one pill:
- Take the missed pill immediately and continue to take your pills daily as normal.
- It may mean you have to take 2 pills in one day.
- Your contraceptive protection shouldn’t be reduced if you are less than 12 hours late.
If you are over 12 hours late or have missed more than one pill:
- Take the pill you missed most recently as soon as you remember.
- Leave any earlier missed pills in the strip, do not take them.
- Take your next pill at the normal time, even if this means taking two pills in one day.
- You will need to use extra protection for the next seven days such as condoms.
- Check how many pills are left in the pack after the most recently missed pill.
If there are 7 or more pills left in the pack:
- Use extra contraceptive methods for the next seven days.
- When you have finished the strip, have your usual 7-day pill break before starting a new pack.
- If you missed pills during the first week of the strip and you had sex, there is a chance you could be pregnant. Contact a doctor, family planning clinic, nurse, or pharmacist for advice as soon as possible.
If there are less than 7 pills left in the pack:
- Use extra contraceptive methods for the next seven days to protect you from pregnancy.
- When you finish the strip, continue to take the next strip the next day without a break.
- If you do not have a withdrawal bleed after the second strip is finished, take a pregnancy test.
Can I take Cilique to delay my period?
Yes, you can use Cilique to delay your period because it is a monophasic pill. Once you finish the strip you are taking, start the next strip the following day without a break. After this, continue to take your pills as normal.
While taking the second strip, you may experience some bleeding or spotting but don’t worry. Take the next strip after your usual 7-day pill free break even if there is some spotting or bleeding.
Can I use Cilique as emergency contraception?
Cilique can be taken back-to-back to delay your period but we do not advise using it as emergency contraception. It is much better and more cost-effective to use emergency contraception if you think there is a chance you could become pregnant while taking Cilique.
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