“May all be happy, may all be healed, may all be at peace and may no one ever suffer."
This is a 21-day pill, to take one each day for 21 days, followed by 7 days when you take no pills. It is a combined oral contraceptive pill to prevent getting pregnant. This low dose contraceptive contains two types of female sex hormones, Oestrogen and Progestogen. These hormones prevent an egg being released from the ovaries to prevent getting pregnant. This also makes the cervical fluid (mucus) thicker to make it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb. It does not protect from sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
The benefits of taking the pill include:
Take this tablet every day for 21 days as described below: This tablet comes in strips of 21 pills, each marked with a day of the week.
Within a few days of taking the last pill from the strip, you should have a withdrawal bleed like a period. This bleed may not have finished when it is time to start your next strip of pills.
You don't need to use extra contraception during these seven pill-free days.
Starting this tablet:
Administration
Changing to this pill from another contraceptive Pill-
Starting this pill after a miscarriage or abortion: If you have had a miscarriage or an abortion, your doctor may tell you to start taking this pill straight away. This means that you will have contraceptive protection with your first pill. Contraception after having a baby if you have just had a baby, ask your doctor for advice about contraception.
If you are not breast-feeding:
A missed pill:
A lost pill: If you lose a pill, either take the last pill of the strip in place of the lost pill. Then take all the other pills on their proper days. Your cycle will be one day shorter than normal, but your contraceptive protection won't be affected. After your seven pill-free days you will have a new starting day, one day earlier than before.
If you are sick or have diarrhea: If you are sick (vomit) or have very bad diarrhoea your body may not get its usual dose of hormones from that pill. If you vomit within 3 to 4 hours after taking your pill, this is like missing a pill. You must follow the advice for missed pills. If you have severe diarrhoea for more than 12 hours after taking. This pill follow the instructions for if you are more than 12 hours late, A missed pill. Talk to your doctor if your stomach upset carries on or gets worse. He or she may recommend another form of contraception.
Missed a period- could you be pregnant: Occasionally, you may miss a withdrawal bleed. This could mean that you are pregnant, but that is very unlikely if you have taken your pills correctly. Start your next strip at the normal time. If you think that you might have put yourself at risk of pregnancy (for example, by missing pills or taking other medicines), or if you miss a second bleed, you should do a pregnancy test.
Taking more than one pill should not cause harm: It is unlikely that taking more than one pill will do you any harm, but you may feel sick, vomit or have some vaginal bleeding. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
You can delay a period: If you want to delay having a period, finish the strip of pills you are taking. Start the next strip the next day without a break. Take this strip the usual way. After the second strip, leave seven pill-free days as usual, then start your next strip of pills in the normal way. When you use the second strip, you may have some unexpected bleeding or spotting on the days that you take the pill, but don't worry.
When you want to get pregnant: If you are planning a baby, it’s best to use another method of contraception after stopping this pill until you have had a proper period. Your doctor or midwife relies on the date of your last natural period before you get pregnant to tell you when your baby is due. However, it will not cause you or the baby any harm if you get pregnant straight away.
You should not use this tablet if you have or ever had any of the conditions listed below:
If you suffer from any of these or get them for the first time while taking this tablet contact your doctor as soon as possible stop taking this tablet.
If you ever need to take another medicine at the same time as being on the pill, always tell your doctor, pharmacist or dentist that you're taking this tablet. Also check the leaflets that come with all your medicines to see if they can be taken with hormonal contraceptives.
Some medicines can stop this tablet from working properly-for example:
If you do need to take one of these medicines, this tablet may not be suitable for you or you may be able to take this tablet and use extra contraception for a while. This tablet can also affect how well other medicines work. For example, Cyclosporine and Lamotrigine.
Taking these medicines with food and drink: There are no special instructions about food and drink while on this tablet.
Bleeding between periods should not last long: A few women have a little unexpected bleeding or spotting while they are taking this pill, especially during the first few months. Normally, this bleeding is nothing to worry about and will stop after a day or two. Keep taking this pill as usual; the problem should disappear after the first few strips. You may also have unexpected bleeding if you are not taking your pills regularly, so try to take your pill at the same time every day. Also, unexpected bleeding can sometimes be caused by other medicines. Make an appointment to see your doctor if you get breakthrough bleeding or spotting that: