What it is used for
- Preventing pregnancy
- Regulating or lightening periods
- Period pain (dysmenorrhoea)
- Acne
- Premenstrual symptoms
- Symptoms of endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (when prescribed)
How it works
It combines two hormones, an estrogen and a progestogen, which mainly stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also thickens cervical mucus and thins the womb lining, making it harder for sperm to reach an egg or for a pregnancy to implant.
How it is taken
Usually taken as a daily tablet in a cycle, with some packs including hormone-free or placebo days. Combined hormones also come as a weekly skin patch or a monthly vaginal ring. Take it exactly as your doctor, pharmacist, or the package label directs, at a regular time, and ask what to do if you miss a dose or vomit shortly after taking it.
No doses here on purpose. The right strength and schedule depend on you — only a doctor or pharmacist should set them. Always follow your prescription and the label.
Common side effects
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Spotting or breakthrough bleeding between periods
- Bloating
- Changes in libido
Serious effects — get help
- Signs of a blood clot in the leg (painful, swollen, warm calf)
- Signs of a clot in the lung (sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain, coughing blood)
- Signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech)
- Severe chest pain or heart attack symptoms
- Sudden severe headache or migraine with vision changes
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
If a reaction is severe — for example trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or collapse — go to the nearest emergency room now or call your local emergency number. Do not wait for an online consultation.
Interactions to watch
- Some epilepsy and seizure medicines
- Certain HIV medicines
- Some antibiotics used for tuberculosis (rifampicin-type)
- The herbal product St John's Wort
- Some medicines for hepatitis C
- Medicines that affect liver enzymes can reduce contraceptive reliability
Who should take care
- Tell your clinician if you smoke, are over 35, or are very overweight, as this raises clot risk
- Not suitable for some people with a history of blood clots, certain migraines, some cancers, or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Discuss any liver disease
- Generally not used while breastfeeding in the early weeks
- Tell every clinician you take it before any surgery or long-distance travel
- Seek advice on alternatives if pregnancy is planned or suspected