Contraceptive pill service

As a simple rule, there is no “best” contraceptive pill. They all have different pros and cons, and what’s right for you will depend on your age, general health and lifestyle. The best course of action is learning about the different types of contraceptive pills, their benefits, and speaking to a doctor who can help guide you to finding the right contraceptive pill for you.

It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to stay on the same pill forever. If you start taking a particular pill, and find discomfort with any side effects or would like to change to a pill with different benefits, you can - with the proper guidance from a doctor.

Start a contraceptive consultation

With our contraceptive consultation service, our doctors can help make sure you’re on the best contraceptive for you. There’s no need to visit a GP in person, and we’ll deliver your pill straight to your door.

Whether you’re starting the contraceptive pill for the first time, not happy with your current contraception, or looking for a contraceptive that can do more than protect you from pregnancy, a contraceptive consultation is the fastest and safest way to do so.

Simply start a consultation, and we’ll guide you through the different types of contraceptives, explain their benefits, and ask you a few questions about your health and contraceptive needs. Our doctors will review your information to provide you with the most suitable pill for you.

For just £5, you can make a more informed decision about your contraception with the help of a GMC-registered doctor. It’s fast, simple and there’s no need to book an appointment or leave your home to get your medication.

Alternatively, you can book a telephone consultation to speak to one of our doctors directly before getting your prescription.

There are two main types of contraceptive pill, the combined pill and the mini pill. Both of these types of pills are over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, but they differ in ingredients and who they’re suitable for.

Some contraceptive pills can do more for your health than just preventing pregnancy, and these benefits will play a role in helping you decide which pill is right for you. Some can help with heavy or painful periods, while others can reduce the symptoms of acne or PMS.

The mini pill

The mini pill (progesterone only-pill, or “POP”) does not contain oestrogen and only contains the hormone progesterone. And because of this, we usually recommend it to women who can’t have oestrogen for any health or personal reasons. Oestrogen can also affect your blood pressure, so the mini pill is a better choice for people with high blood pressure, smokers (especially if over 35), and anyone with a family history of blood clots.

Advantages of the Mini Pill

• It doesn’t contain oestrogen, so it’s useful for women who cannot take oestrogen (such as breastfeeding women, or women with high blood pressure)
• It’s safer for smokers, especially if over 35
• It can help with PMS symptoms and painful or heavy periods

Disadvantages of the Mini Pill

• With some mini pills, you have a shorter window in which to take the pill each day to ensure effectiveness
• It may cause temporary side effects in the first few months, such as headaches, breast tenderness, weight change and spots
• Your periods may become irregular or stop altogether whilst you are taking the mini pill. Spotting in between periods is also common with the POP
• Missing a pill, vomiting or severe diarrhoea after taking the pill can make it less effective
• Medications to treat HIV, epilepsy and TB, as well as St. John’s Wort can make the pill less effective
• Doesn’t help improve acne

The combined pill

The combined contraceptive pill or ‘the pill’, as it’s often referred to, contains two synthetic versions of the hormones progestogen and oestrogen, which are produced naturally by your body.

Most combined pills contain the same amount of hormones in each pill, delivering a consistent dose of progesterone and oestrogen every day. These are called monophasic pills.

Some combined pills are known as “phasic” pills. These pills have different amounts of hormones every week, which mimic natural changes in your hormone levels throughout your cycle. For some women, this can lead to fewer or more manageable side effects, but they are a little trickier to use than monophasic pills.

Advantages of the Combined Pill

• It can make periods lighter, more regular and less painful
• It may help PMS symptoms
• Certain brands can help with acne
• Studies have found that it reduces the risk of ovarian, uterine and colorectal cancer
• Can help with problems associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Disadvantages of the Combined Pill

• Side effects including headaches, nausea, mood changes, and breast tenderness are common in the first few months of taking it
• It can increase your risk of breast and cervical cancer
• Has been reported by users to cause depression, although no official link has been made
• It can increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other blood clots
• Missing a pill, vomiting or severe diarrhoea after taking the pill can make it less effective
• It may not be suitable if you’re a smoker (especially if you are over 35 years old), if have a family history of breast cancer, have cardiac problems or are overweight
• Medications to treat HIV, epilepsy and TB, as well as St. John’s Wort can make the pill less effective

The possible side effects of each type of contraceptive pill are the same, no matter which brand you use. But the side effects each person may have will vary from person to person.

Combination birth control pills can cause side effects such as:

• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting — more common with continuous-dosing or extended-cycle pills
• Breast tenderness
• Elevated blood pressure
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Bloating

Side effects of the mini pill include:

• Irregular menstrual bleeding
• Acne
• Breast tenderness
• Decreased sex drive (libido)
• Depression
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Ovarian cysts

Although many people feel like they get heavier on the pill, there’s no clear evidence that the pill can cause changes in your weight.

Generally, one pill is not more likely to cause a specific side effect compared to another, and the side effects experienced may differ between people. But the mini pill tends to cause irregular bleeding for the first 3 months, after which most people stop having periods at all.

Doctors usually suggest trying a pill brand to see if it suits you. And then trying others if it does not.

There are serious risks that have been linked with taking the pill, such as:

• certain cancers
• blood clots
• heart attacks and stroke

Yasmin is a combined pill which has a higher risk of blood clots. Combined pills Levest, Microgynon, Rigevidon and Ovranette have a lower risk of causing blood clots, in comparison. Pills with a higher amount of oestrogen have been linked to a higher risk of blood clots, but other factors like the amount and type of progesterone in the pill, lifestyle choices and medical history also affect these risks.

Your doctor will discuss all possible risks with you before you start taking the contraceptive pill. A doctor will not start you on certain types of contraceptive pills if the risk is too high.

Speak to a doctor as soon as possible if you're taking the contraceptive pill and have:

• Abdominal pain
• Breast lump
• Chest pain
• Depression
• Difficulty speaking
• Eye problems, such as blurred or double vision or loss of vision
• Fainting
• Jaundice — yellowish discoloration of the skin
• New or worsening headaches
• Seizures
• Severe allergic skin rash
• Severe leg pain or swelling
• Severe mood swings
• A missed period or other signs of pregnancy

When taken correctly at the same time daily, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means about 1 in 100 people who use the pill will get pregnant in a year, so there is still a very small chance of getting pregnant even if you use the pill as instructed.

In reality, people do not always take the pill correctly, so its effectiveness is actually about 91%. Some of these reasons are:

• forgetting to take the pill
• taking it at the wrong time of day
• being sick or having diarrhoea
• taking other medicines that make the pill less effective

You should take your contraceptive pill at the same time every day. But, exactly how you should take the pill will depend on its type and brand. For example:

• If you take the combined pill with 21 pills in the pack, you should take a 7 day break between each pack
• If you take the combined pill with 21 active pills and 7 dummy pills, you should not take a break between packs
• If you take the mini pill, you should not take a break between packs

Some pills have a strict time frame of when you need to take them every day, while others have a more flexible way of taking them. When going on the pill, you should discuss with your doctor which option is best suited to your lifestyle.

Generally, the contraceptive pill should work effectively after taking it for 7 days, no matter which day of your period you start.

For most of the combined pills and the mini pill, if you start on day 1 to 5 of your period, the pill should start working immediately without the need for an additional form of contraception.

If you start outside these days, you should use another form of contraception, like condoms, for the first 7 days of taking the combined pill, or the first 2 days of taking the mini pill.

You can get the contraceptive pill for free from your GP, or online from providers like Superdrug Online Doctor.

Some benefits of getting the contraceptive pill online from Superdrug Online Doctor are that:

• we offer the full range of UK pill brands
• you do not have to visit the GP
• you can pick up your pill within 3 hours of your order being approved, or have it delivered to you by the next day
• you can get advice from a doctor whenever you need it

The main ways the contraceptive pill works to prevent pregnancy are by:

• stopping your body from releasing an egg from your ovary into the womb (ovulation) each month
• making the mucus in your cervix (the neck or entrance of your womb) thicker, so it becomes more difficult for a sperm to pass through and fertilise an egg
• making the inner lining of your womb thinner, so it's harder for any fertilised egg to attach to your womb and grow

The hormones in the contraceptive pill can cause many side effects but may also help with improving acne, or making periods lighter and less painful. Some people take the pill for these reasons alone, and not for preventing pregnancy.

It’s always best to discuss your options with your doctor first before you start the pill, to help you choose the best contraceptive pill for you.

When it comes to contraceptives, the pill isn’t your only option. There are many different forms of contraceptives each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Hormonal Implant - A hormonal implant is a small tube placed under your upper arm's skin. It releases a hormone called progesterone to stop you getting pregnant. The implant is up to 99% in preventing pregnancy and is effective for 3 years.

Intrauterine device (IUD or copper coil) - An intra-uterine device is a type of birth control that's inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The coil is up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy and lasts for as long as it's in place.

Hormonal Coil (IUS) - Like the copper coil, but the IUS releases hormones which prevent you getting pregnant, and can also make your periods less painful, lighter, and shorter.

Depo-Provera Hormonal Injection - The hormonal injection is an injection of hormones you receive 8 or 13 weeks (depending on which type) to protect you from pregnancy. During this time, you are up to 99% protected against pregnancy.

Hormone Patch - The hormone patch is a small square patch worn on the skin. It contains similar hormones to those used in contraceptive pills, except you absorb them through your skin. When used correctly, the hormonal patch is up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Vaginal hormonal ring - The vaginal hormonal ring is a small ring that's inserted into your vagina. It contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen, which are the same type of hormones used in contraceptive pills. When used correctly, the vaginal hormonal ring is between 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Diaphragm - The contraceptive diaphragm is a form of birth control that doesn't contain any hormones. It is a soft latex-free dome with a flexible rim made from silicone that's inserted into the vagina to form a barrier that stops sperm from reaching the cervix to prevent pregnancy.

Cervical cap - The cervical cap is a dome-shaped cup made of silicone you place inside your vagina with its rim fitted around the base of your cervix. This forms a barrier that stops sperm from reaching your uterus. However, you should always use it in combination with spermicide for it to be fully effective. When used correctly, it's up to 96% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Male condom - The male condom is a covering worn over the penis during sex to stop sperm from getting inside the vagina and fertilizing an egg. It's an affordable and effective method for preventing STIs and pregnancy. When used correctly, condoms are up to 98% effective.

Female condom - Also known as the "internal condom," the female condom is a lubricated "sheath" you insert into your vagina before having sex. It works by blocking sperm from reaching the cervix. When used correctly, it's up to 95% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Withdrawal (the "pull out" method) - This is an unreliable method of contraception, where the man will remove (pull out) his penis from the vagina before he ejaculates. Doing this is risky, and can still cause pregnancy, as some sperm may be released before the man ejaculates. The withdrawal method does not protect you against STIs.