Femodene is a combined contraceptive pill, also known as ‘the pill’, that’s taken every day for 21 days to prevent pregnancy. It is also available as a 28-day pill under the name Femodene ED. However, we only offer the 21-day version at Superdrug Online Doctor.

Femodene is only available with a prescription from a registered health professional.

Femodene contains 2 active ingredients, gestodene and ethinylestradiol, which are synthetic versions of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Together, they work to stop pregnancy from happening in several ways.

Is there anything else that Femodene can be used for?

Preventing pregnancy is the main reason for taking the pill but in some people it can also improve:

• mild acne
• irregular or heavy periods
• premenstrual symptoms
• polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

At Superdrug Online Doctor, we only offer Femodene as a contraception method and not solely to treat other health conditions.

Femodene works in 3 ways to prevent pregnancy. It:

1. Prevents ovulation or the release of an egg from an ovary.
2. Thins the womb lining so an egg has difficulty implanting itself.
3. Thickens cervical mucus making it hard for sperm to reach an egg.

How long does Femodene take to work?

If you take Femodene within the first 5 days of your period, it starts working as soon as you take it. If you take it after this, you’ll need to use additional contraception, like condoms, for 7 days.

How effective is Femodene?

When taken correctly, Femodene can be more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

However, typical use of the combined contraceptive pill means its effectiveness is closer to 91% effective when factors like missed pills or vomiting and diarrhoea illnesses are considered. This is because vomiting or diarrhoea can stop it from being absorbed properly.

The best way to keep Femodene as effective as possible is to make sure you do not miss any pills and that you take it at the same time each day.

To help you remember to take your pill, you can try using a pill reminder app, an alarm, or a pill box, whichever works for you.

Each Femodene pill should be swallowed whole, with water if needed. Femodene is supplied in strips of 21 pills, each marked with a day of the week.

To take Femodene you will:

• take your first pill on the day marked with the correct day of the week, so if it is Monday, take a pill marked ‘Mon’
• continue taking 1 pill each day following the directions of the arrows printed on the strip until you have finished all 21 pills

Once you have finished the strip, you should have a 7-day pill-free break. During this break, you will still be protected against pregnancy if you have taken your pills on time and as prescribed. After a few days, you should experience a withdrawal bleed.

Start a new Femodene strip after the 7 pill-free days, even if you are still bleeding. If you have taken Femodene correctly, you will always begin each new strip on the same day of the week.

There are also other ways to take Femodene that skip some or all withdrawal bleeds. These include:

• taking the pill continuously by starting a new packet one after the other – pill-free bleeds are not the same as a period and are not required to make the pill effective
• tricycling your pill, which means taking 3 pill packets in a row and then having a 4-day break before continuing this same pattern

For more information on the different ways you can take the combined contraceptive pill, speak with your GP or one of our doctors.

When should I start taking Femodene?

You should start taking Femodene on days 1 to 5 of your period to be protected against pregnancy straight away.

If you start taking Femodene after day 5 of your period, you will need to use additional contraception, like condoms, for 7 days.

What if I miss a pill?

If you miss a Femodene pill and you are:

Less than 12 hours late taking your pill, take it as soon as possible, even if it means taking 2 pills in 1 day – you will be protected from becoming pregnant.

More than 12 hours late taking your pill, take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember even if it means taking 2 pills in 1 day, then take the next 7 pills as scheduled – you will need to use additional contraception like condoms for seven days.

If you finish the strip during the 7 days after the missed pill, you should start the next strip straight away, without taking a 7-day pill-free break. You probably won’t have a withdrawal bleed until you have finished the second strip. If you finish the second strip and you don’t have a bleed, you should do a pregnancy test before starting a new strip.

Femodene is available to buy in most UK pharmacies once you have a prescription for it. You can also request Femodene online from reputable online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor, or get it on the NHS.

Can I buy Femodene online?

Yes, you can request Femodene online from Superdrug Online Doctor:

1. Complete a brief health and lifestyle questionnaire.
2. Request your preferred treatment and make payment.
3. One of our doctors will review your treatment request and questionnaire answers.
4. If approved, your treatment will be posted to your address or made available for collection at your local Superdrug Pharmacy.
5. If your request isn’t approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

Can I buy Femodene over the counter?

No, Femodene is not available without a prescription, so you cannot buy it over the counter. You will need to see or speak to a doctor to obtain it. If you’re looking for an over-the-counter contraceptive pill, Hana is a progesterone-only pill that’s available without a prescription.

Can I get Femodene on the NHS?

Yes, Femodene is available on the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with a doctor or a sexual health clinic to see if it is suitable for you and available in your area.

Like all medications, Femodene may give you side effects – although not everyone will experience them.

Common Femodene side effects (affecting between 100 and 1000 in every 10,000 users) include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• headaches
• depressive moods or mood swings
• sore or painful breasts
• stomach ache
• weight gain

Uncommon Femodene side effects (affecting between 10 and 100 in every 10,000 users)are:

• being sick (vomiting)
• fluid retention
• loss of sexual interest
• migraine
• breast enlargement
• skin rash, may be itchy
• stomach upset

Rare Femodene side effects (affecting between 1 and 10 in every 10,000 users) can include:

• poor tolerance of contact lenses
• increased sex drive
• vaginal discharge
• breast discharge
• weight loss

How long do Femodene side effects last?

Femodene side effects usually go away within 3 months as your body gets used to the medication. If you’re still experiencing side effects after this time or are finding them difficult to manage, speak to your doctor for advice.

What to do if you get Femodene side effects

Many of the mild or common Femodene side effects can be managed at home by:

• taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol to manage pain associated with headaches, cramps, or breast tenderness
• drinking plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated and manage symptoms like headaches and feeling sick
• eating smaller, more frequent meals if you are feeling sick
• applying a hot compress to your lower abdomen to manage cramps

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E immediately:

• signs of an allergic reaction (swelling of the hands, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing)
• blood clot symptoms (throbbing or cramping pain, redness, and warmth in a leg or arm, sudden breathlessness, sharp pain, and a cough which may include coughing up blood)

If you find any Femodene side effects hard to manage, you should tell your doctor. You can also report any side effects to the Yellow Card Scheme.

Do not take Femodene if you:

• are allergic to any ingredients in Femodene
• have or ever had blood clots in your legs, such as DVT
• have or ever had blood clots in your lungs or other organs
• have a blood clotting disorder
• are going to be off your feet for some time or need an operation
• have or ever had angina pectoris or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• have or ever had a migraine with aura
• have or ever had breast cancer
• have or ever had severe liver disease
• had liver tumours

Femodene and other medications

Some medications can stop Femodene from working properly. Tell your doctor before taking Femodene if you take:

• any medications used to treat epilepsy
• HIV or hepatitis C medications
• griseofulvin
• antibiotics
• barbiturates or other sedatives
• St. John’s wort

Let your doctor know if you are taking any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medication before taking Femodene.

Femodene in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Femodene must not be taken if you think or know you are pregnant. It is also not suitable during breastfeeding.

Does Femodene stop periods?

Femodene can stop periods but you will still get withdrawal bleeding if you have a 7-day pill-free break.

You can avoid this if you start your next Femodene pack straight away but you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before doing this.

If you’re looking to delay your period and are not currently taking a combined contraceptive pill, you could consider period delay tablets.

Can Femodene cause weight gain?

Currently, there is no clinical evidence that the combined contraceptive pill, including Femodene, causes weight gain, but some people do experience weight fluctuations when taking it.

Does Femodene help clear acne?

The active ingredients in Femodene, ethinylestradiol and gestodene, can help improve the appearance of acne in some people.

Can I use Femodene as emergency contraception?

No, Femodene should not be used as an emergency contraception. If you need emergency contraception, you can request the morning after pill from Superdrug Online Doctor.

Can I take Femodene to delay my period?

Yes, Femodene strips can be taken back to back to delay your period, but you should speak to your doctor before you do this.

This is called continuous pill taking and is just as effective. It may be suited to you if you’d prefer not to bleed each month. You can do this as a one-off or take your pill like this all the time.

Is Femodene the same as Microgynon?

No, Femodene and Microgynon are not the same because they contain different types of synthetic progesterone. Femodene contains gestodene whereas Microgynon contains levonorgestrel. Some people react differently to different types of progesterone so you may find that you get fewer side effects with one type than the other.

Are Femodene and Millinette the same?

Femodene and Millinette are brand names for 2 different combined contraceptive pills that contain the same active ingredients, gestodene and ethinylestradiol. The only differences between them are the brand name, price and packaging, they may also have different non-active ingredients.

Is Femodene high in estrogen?

No, Femodene contains the standard dose of oestrogen, 30 micrograms (mcg). There are low-dose oestrogen pills available that contain 20cg such as Gedarel and Femodette.