Lucette is a combined oral contraceptive pill, taken daily to prevent pregnancy and treat heavy periods. It contains artificial versions of the hormones oestrogen (30mcg of ethinylestradiol) and progesterone (3mg of drospirenone).

Is Lucette the same as Yasmin?

Yes, Lucette and Yasmin contain the same ingredients in identical amounts and work in the same way. The only difference is that they are made by different companies and have different names.

You need a prescription before you can buy Lucette. You can buy Lucette online using our confidential service from Superdrug Online Doctor, using the following steps. The service can be used even if you have never taken Lucette before.

1. Fill out the short online questionnaire.
2. One of our doctors will review your answers and make sure that it is safe to prescribe you Lucette.
3. If our doctors think it’s safe and appropriate for you to be prescribed this medication, it will be delivered to an address of your choice in a discreet package, or you can collect it from a Superdrug Pharmacy.

If you are buying medication online, use the Government’s online checker to be sure you are using a licensed site.

Can you get Lucette over the counter?

No. Lucette is a prescription only medication, which means you cannot buy it over the counter.

Can you get Lucette on the NHS?

Yes, but local guidelines vary, which means you may or may not be able to get Lucette for free on the NHS. Talk to your GP or local sexual health clinic to find out more.

Lucette contains the artificial hormones, ethinylestradiol and drospirenone, which regulate the menstrual cycle and protect you from pregnancy by:

• stopping ovulation so you do not release an egg every month
• increasing the thickness of the fluid around the neck of the womb, making it harder for the sperm to reach an egg
• thinning the womb lining, making it more difficult for a fertilised egg to implant itself

How long does Lucette take to work?

How long Lucette takes to work depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle. If you start taking it on days 1 to 5 of your period, you will be protected against pregnancy straight away. If you start taking it at any other point in your cycle, you need to use extra contraception for 7 days.

How effective is Lucette?

Lucette is over 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly, but in reality, it is closer to being 91% effective. This is because other factors may affect its effectiveness, such as missing a pill, taking other medications that make Lucette less effective, or becoming ill with vomiting (being sick) or diarrhoea, which can affect hormone absorption.

Most people choose to take 1 Lucette pill every day for 21 days, then have a 7-day break before starting a new strip. During the pill-free break, you should have a withdrawal bleed, which is similar to a period.

This is not the only way you can take Lucette, you can also take it in the following ways:

1. Continuous use – Take 1 Lucette pill every day without a break. You will have no withdrawal bleed if you take it like this.
2. Flexible extended use – Take 1 pill every day for at least 21 days, until you have a withdrawal bleed that lasts for 4 days, take a 4-day break and then start a new strip. Continue taking the pill daily for at least 21 days. If a breakthrough bleed occurs for 4 consecutive days after taking the pill for at least 21 days, take a 4-day break and so on.
3. Tricycling (extended use) – Take 1 pill every day continuously for 9 weeks (3 strips), then have a 7-day break. Then repeat the cycle. Taking the pill in this way means you will only have 5 bleeds per year rather than 13, which can be helpful if you have uncomfortable symptoms during the break.

However you choose to take Lucette, you should take it at the same time every day. You should swallow it whole with a glass of water if needed, and you can take the pill with or without food.

When should I start taking Lucette?

You can start taking Lucette at any time in your menstrual cycle, but you will need to use extra contraception for the next 7 days unless you are on days 1 to 5 of your period. If it is day 1 to 5 of your period, you will be protected from pregnancy straight away.

Can I take Lucette back to back?

It is possible to take Lucette without a break and this approach can help some women with heavy or painful periods. You should talk to your GP about this option before you start taking Lucette without a break.

What happens if you miss a Lucette pill?

If you miss one Lucette pill, or start your new strip a day late:

• take the pill you have missed as soon as possible – you should take the missed pill even if it means taking 2 pills at once
• you should still be protected from pregnancy, so you won’t need to use extra protection or emergency contraception
• you should continue taking the rest of the strip as normal

If it has been longer than 2 days since your missed pill or you have missed more than one pill:

• take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember
• leave any earlier missed pills in the strip
• take your next pill as usual even if this means taking 2 pills in 1 day
• you may not be protected from pregnancy and should use extra precautions such as condoms for the next 7 days
• if you have had unprotected sex since you missed your pills, you’ll need to use emergency contraception

If you are sick (vomit) or have diarrhoea within 3 to 4 hours of taking your Lucette, your body may not have fully absorbed the hormones. If your sickness continues, talk to a health professional to get advice but use extra protection to ensure you are protected from pregnancy.

If you have missed more than 2 pills take the pill as usual once you remember, but use extra protection for the next 7 days. If you’ve had unprotected sex since you missed your pill, you’ll need to talk to your doctor straight away about emergency contraception.

If you have to take emergency contraception while on Lucette, check with the health professional about when you should take your pill and when you will be protected from pregnancy.

Can I take Lucette to delay my period?

Yes, you can delay your period by taking Lucette back to back without the 7 day break. You should talk to your doctor before you do this.

Can I use Lucette as an emergency contraceptive?

No, Lucette is a contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy, whereas emergency contraception is used when there is a chance you may become pregnant through having unprotected sex.

Can I take Lucette after a miscarriage or termination?

It is possible to start taking the Lucette after a miscarriage or termination. You may need to wait a number of days before starting Lucette, depending on how many weeks pregnant you were before miscarriage or termination. Discuss options with your doctor first.

Can I take Lucette if I am breastfeeding?

Combined pills like Lucette can be used when breastfeeding if it has been at least 6 weeks since you gave birth. Tell your doctor that you are breastfeeding and would like advice on which is the best pill to take, or which contraceptive method might be best.

Can I drink while taking Lucette?

Drinking alcohol does not directly affect how Lucette works or how effective it is. However, if you throw up or get diarrhoea as a result of drinking, your pill may not be absorbed properly and may not be effective.

Can I take painkillers when taking Lucette?

Yes, Lucette does not interact with painkillers. This means it should be safe to take painkillers while on Lucette.

You should know that all pills have possible side effects, but if you have been prescribed Lucette then your doctor considers it safe for you to take. Lucette is a commonly prescribed contraceptive pill and is similarly safe to take as other combined contraceptive pills.

As with any medication, some people do have side effects, despite this not being common. These are more common in the first 3 months as your body adapts to the hormonal changes and should go away or become more manageable after this time. If they do not go away or are too much to deal with from the start, talk to your doctor. You can do this using your account on Superdrug Online Doctor.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) are:

• depressive mood
• headache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• breast tenderness

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) are:

• change in libido
• high blood pressure
• being sick or having diarrhoea
• acne, rash, or hives
• vaginal infection
• fluid retention

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people) are:

• harmful blood clots
• breast secretion
• hearing impairment
• allergic reaction
• skin conditions known erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme

In very rare cases, a side effect of taking Lucette is that you can develop a blood clot. The signs of a blood clot include unexplained swelling or tenderness in one or both legs, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, immediate loss of vision and stabbing chest pain. If you develop any of these symptoms, you should seek urgent medical help and stop taking Lucette straight away. The patient information leaflet has more information on how to recognise a blood clot.

Does Lucette make your breasts grow?

Some women report that taking the combined pill makes their breasts grow due to hormonal changes. This usually settles down after 3 months.

Does Lucette increase your risk of blood clots?

Yes, like all combined contraceptive pills Lucette can increase your risk of blood clots. The risk of developing a blood clot when you are taking Lucette is 9 to 12 out of 10,000 women, compared to 2 in 10,000 if you are not taking a combined oral contraceptive pill. The risk is low overall, but some factors can increase it. This includes family history, weight, age, whether you plan to spend a long time on a plane and whether you have just given birth. The risk is also higher in the first year that you start taking Lucette and returns to normal within a few weeks of when you stop taking it.

Does Lucette help acne?

Yes, Lucette can help improve acne. Lucette causes hormonal changes which can reduce your body’s production of sebum, an oily substance that causes acne.

Can taking Lucette cause mood swings or make you depressed?

Yes, some women report changes in mood or increased low mood when taking the combined pill, but the research on this is inconclusive. If you feel this is the case for you, talk to your doctor about changing pills.

Does Lucette cause weight gain?

Body weight changes are listed as an uncommon Lucette side effect, but there is no direct evidence that the pill makes you gain weight. One clinical trial found that there were no significant weight or body changes after 3 to 4 months of taking oral contraceptives in 150 people.

Some women report gaining weight when they take Lucette or other pills, but this is usually temporary and due to fluid retention or appetite changes. If you are concerned about weight gain while taking Lucette, eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting regular exercise can help keep your weight within a safe range. If you are still concerned, speak to your doctor for more advice.

Does Lucette stop periods?

No, Lucette does not stop periods because you will have a withdrawal bleed if you have a 7-day break, which is similar to a period. However, it may be lighter, less painful, and more regular than your periods were.

If you take Lucette back to back and don't have a 7-day break, then you can delay your period. You should speak to a doctor before changing how you take Lucette.

Can Lucette give you low libido?

It is possible. Some women report that taking the combined pill impacts their sex drive. If you are worried that this has happened to you, talk to your GP, who may suggest trying a contraceptive pill with different hormones.

There are specific medical conditions where women are advised not to take a contraceptive pill that contains oestrogen. In this case, the GP may recommend that you try the progesterone-only mini pill instead of Lucette, or a different type of contraception.

It is essential to tell the prescribing GP if you:

• smoke or stopped smoking less than a year ago
• need an operation which means you will be off your feet for an extended period of time
• are overweight as this can increase the risk of some serious side effects
• suspect you might be pregnant
• breastfeeding
• have high blood pressure
• have or have had blood clots on a vein, like your leg, or lungs or other organs
• have a familial history of blood clots under the age of 45
• have or have had a heart attack, stroke or heart abnormality
• have or have had migraines
• have or have had breast cancer or cancer of the ovary or womb lining
• have or have had a disease of the gallbladder or liver
• have or have had diabetes
• are allergic to any of the ingredients

Can I take Lucette if I am taking other medications?

If you are taking other medications or herbal supplements, you should tell the doctor prescribing you the contraceptive pill. Likewise, if you are already taking Lucette and a doctor prescribes you another medication you should tell them you are using Lucette. This is because some medications interact with the combined pill and make it less effective at preventing pregnancy.

Some medications for the treatment of the following conditions are known to interact with the combined pill:

• epilepsy
• tuberculosis
• HIV infection
• hepatitis C virus infection
• other infectious diseases
• high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs
• depressive mood

Do weight loss injections affect Lucette?

Yes, weight loss injections can make combined oral contraceptive pills, like Lucette, less effective and increase the chance of pregnancy. Weight loss injections can slow down stomach emptying, which can affect the absorption of oral contraceptives.

If you use Mounjaro for weight loss, you should let your doctor know before taking Lucette because they may recommend a different type of contraception method that does not involve daily pills. If that is not an option, then you will need to use condoms for 4 weeks after starting or increasing your Mounjaro dose. If you get Mounjaro side effects, like sickness or diarrhoea, you will need to follow the missed pill guidance in the Lucette patient information leaflet.

If you use Wegovy for weight loss, there is no evidence that it reduces the effectiveness of the pill. However, if you get Wegovy side effects, like being sick or diarrhoea, it can affect how well the pill is absorbed, and may increase the chance of pregnancy. If this happens, follow the guidance about what to do if you miss a pill in the Lucette patient information leaflet. It is also advisable to use extra protection, such as condoms.

What are the risks of taking Lucette?

Lucette is safe to take as long as you have been prescribed it by a doctor who understands your medical history and conditions.

However, with the combined oral contraceptive pill, your risk of developing blood clots and certain types of cancer is slightly increased than if you are not taking the pill. Certain medical conditions can increase your risk in these instances, so it’s important to discuss your medical history with your doctor.

Blood clots

The oestrogen in Lucette can cause your blood to clot more easily and blood clots can lead to deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg), pulmonary embolism (clot in your lung), stroke and heart attack. The risk is low (between 9 to 12 out of 10,000 women per year) but it is higher when compared to women who are not taking any oral contraceptive (2 out of 10,000 women). The risk decreases after your first year of taking Lucette for the first time and returns to normal within a few weeks of stopping taking it.

Cancer

Research has shown that the combined pill can slightly increase the risk of developing breast and cervical cancer. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill your risk goes back to normal. Your breast cancer risk is slightly higher if there is a history of breast cancer in your family, or you are overweight.

On Trustpilot, over 34,000 people have reviewed Superdrug Online Doctor. They give the service an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. On The Low Down, users of Lucette rate it 3.1 stars out of 5. You can see how people view their moods, weight gain and sex drive while taking it. On drugs.com you can see how users rate birth control pills which are a combination of drospirenone and ethinylestradiol. The average rating was 5.3 out of 10.