What is the contraceptive pill?

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Can you buy the pill over the counter?

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Contraceptive pill types

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Contraceptive pill brands

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How much does the pill cost?

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How to take the pill

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About Yasmin

Yasmin is a combined oral contraceptive pill with two active ingredients: ethinylestradiol (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone oestrogen) and drospirenone (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone). When taken correctly, it is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. 

Like other contraceptive pills, Yasmin usually leads to lighter, less painful and more regular periods, especially after the first three months. Women who have had a bad time with other contraceptive pills often have a much better time using Yasmin (or Cilest), but every woman can react differently to each type of pill.

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About Marvelon

Marvelon is a very common combined oral contraceptive pill. It has two active ingredients, ethinylestradiol (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone oestrogen) and desogestrel (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone). 

When taken correctly, Marvelon ensures 99% protection against pregnancy. If you start to take Marvelon on the first day of your period, you’ll have immediate protection against pregnancy. 

If you start taking it any later, use additional contraception for the first seven days. Marvelon, like other contraceptive pills, usually leads to lighter, less painful and more regular periods.

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About Microgynon

Microgynon is a combined oral contraceptive pill with two active ingredients: ethinyl-estradiol (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone oestrogen) and levonorgestrel (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone). When taken correctly, it is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

You need to take Microgynon at more or less the same time every day for it to be most effective. If you start to take Microgynon on the first day of your period, you’ll have immediate protection against pregnancy. If you start taking it any later, use additional contraception for the first seven days. 

Like other contraceptive pills, Microgynon usually leads to lighter, less painful and more regular periods.

Microgynon ED is the same as Microgynon but comes in packets of twenty eight tablets. Seven of the tablets are placebos – they don’t have any active ingredients - but are in the pack so that you can stick to the habit of taking your pill every day (other oral contraceptives usually don’t include these placebo tablets, but instead require that you remember to re-start taking your pill after taking a seven day break to have your period.) 

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About Cilest

Cilest is a combined oral contraceptive pill with two active ingredients: estradiol (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone oestrogen) and norgestimate (a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone). When taken correctly, it is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

If you take Cilest on the first day of your period, you will have immediate protection against pregnancy. (If you start taking Cilest any later than the first day of your period, you will have to use extra contraception for seven days until Cilest becomes fully effective, same as with the other combined oral contraceptive pills.) Cilest should be taken at roughly the same time every day. It is better to take it in the evening. 

Women who have had a bad time with other contraceptive pills often have a better time using Cilest (or Yasmin), but every woman can react differently to each type of pill. Like other oral contraceptive pills, Cilest usually leads to lighter, less painful and more regular periods.

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Combined Pill

The combined oral contraceptive or ‘the pill’ is affordable and easy to use. Tablets are taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy. The combined pill contains two different hormones which are synthetic versions of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. 

There are many types of combined contraceptive pills to choose from. Used correctly, the combined pill is over 99% effective at protecting against pregnancy. It works because it stops ovulation, stops sperm reaching an egg and prevents a fertilised egg implanting in the womb. The combined pill recreates the natural menstrual cycle. Every 21 days there is a seven day break to have your period. The combined pill comes in packets of 21 or 28 tablets and one pill has to be taken daily. 

If you take the combined pill with 21 tablets, you’ll need to take a 7 day break at the end of each packet and then start taking the next packet of pills. If you take the combined pill with 28 tablets, you stick to the habit of taking one pill every day without a break because there are 7 placebo pills (pills that don’t have an active ingredient) in every packet. 

Combined oral contraceptives decrease the risk of ectopic pregnancy and cancer in the reproductive system. The pill also usually leads to lighter, less painful and more regular periods and can improve acne.

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Mini-Pill

Unlike the combined pill, the mini-pill or progesterone-only pill contains only one type of hormone. The active ingredient in this oral contraceptive is progestin, a synthetic version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone. When taken correctly, the mini-pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. It works because it stops ovulation, stops sperm reaching an egg and prevents a fertilised egg implanting in the womb. 

The mini-pill was first created for women who were breastfeeding, because oestrogen affects the production of breast milk. It is now used more widely. 

The mini-pill is recommended for women who are over 35 years of age and smoke. It is also used by women who can’t take oestrogen because of conditions like high blood pressure, blood clots or obesity. The mini-pill comes with 28 tablets in a packet. There are no placebo tablets. All of the tablets contain the active ingredient. For the mini-pill to be effective, you must take a pill every day at roughly the same time (within a three hour window). You don’t have a break between packets – when you finish one packet you start another the next day – so you don’t have to remember to stop taking the tablets to have your period. If you start taking the mini-pill within the first five days of a period, you will be immediately protected against pregnancy. If you start the mini-pill outside of this time, you’ll need to use another contraceptive (e.g. condoms) for two days. 

 The mini-pill often leads to lighter, less painful periods, but four out of ten women also experience irregular bleeding. Discuss this with your doctor if it happens.

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Alternatives

There are a number of other methods of contraception, including condoms, the coil and contraceptive implants.

If you would like to discuss your method of contraception with one of our doctors you can book a telephone consultation. Our doctors will be able to offer personalised advice.

For further information on the 52% saving mentioned on our ads see price comparison here.

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