Order the Contraceptive Pill online

The contraceptive pill is an oral tablet (one you swallow) that helps prevent unwanted pregnancies. They contain man-made hormones and need to be taken once a day. Contraceptive pills are non-invasive, which means they don’t need to be implanted or inserted into your body to work.

If you’re new to the pill, our doctors can check your consultation questionnaire and suggest a pill that will suit you best.

Want to learn a bit more before you order? ➤ See our page on finding the best contraceptive pill for more information.

There are two main types of contraceptive pills:

• Combined pills, which contain two different hormones.
• Mini pills, which only contain one hormone.

Combined contraceptive pills contain two man-made sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. These are like the natural hormones produced by your ovaries.

Normally, combined pills are taken for 21 days and then you take a 7-day pill break. But, some pills are taken every day, including pills without medication in them during the 7-day break, to help you keep track.

There are many different brands of the combined oral contraceptive pill. They all work in a similar way but contain different amounts and types of oestrogen and progesterone. These different hormones and doses mean there is a difference in the kinds of extra benefits (like improving acne or premenstrual syndrome) and side effect risks (like breast tenderness or headaches).

➤ See our page on contraceptive pill brands for more information.

The main advantage of every-day pills is you don’t need to keep track of the 7-day break between packs yourself. You simply take the medication-free pills for 7 days and then start your next pack right away.

The mini pill is also known as the progesterone-only pill (POP). Packs usually come in multiples of 28 pills and you take them every day without a break.

It’s different from combined pills because it does not contain oestrogen. It only contains one hormone, progesterone. This means there’s less risk of oestrogen-related side effects (like breast tenderness and headaches) but also less chance of benefits to certain health conditions (like acne or premenstrual syndrome). There’s also a higher risk of progesterone-only side effects like acne and mood swings.

➤ See our page on the mini pill for more information.

For most women, the combined pill will be the right choice. On top of protection from pregnancy, combined contraceptive pills can improve acne and menstrual symptoms such as heavy or painful periods. Popular combined pills include Rigevidon, Marvelon, and Microgynon.

If you’re a woman over 35, have high blood pressure, or are overweight, then a mini-pill may be the best option for you. This includes pills such as Cerelle, Cerazette, and Hana.

Choosing a contraceptive pill can be tricky but our doctors are here to help. Submit for a consultation and they can suggest a pill they think will suit you best. They will be able to take into account your personal circumstances and check that the pill is safe for you before they prescribe it.

The contraceptive pill works by releasing hormones into the body, causing changes in your body that help prevent pregnancy. Combined and mini pills work slightly differently in the way they prevent pregnancies because they contain different hormones.

How long it takes for your pill to work depends on the pill you’re on and when in your period cycle you start it. Your contraceptive pill could start working right away, or it may take 2 to 7 days before you’re fully protected.

The hormones in the combined pill work to prevent pregnancy in a few different ways. They work by:

• thickening the mucus at the entrance to the womb (cervix), making it harder for sperm to reach an egg
• thinning the lining of the womb, so it’s harder for a fertilised egg to attach and grow into a baby
• stopping an egg from being released from the ovaries (ovulation) in the first place

It depends on which day in your cycle you start:

• If you start days 1 to 5 of your period, you’re protected right away
• If you start after day 5 of your period, you won’t be protected right away and you’ll need to use extra protection for 7 days

The progesterone in mini pills prevents pregnancy in a similar way to the combined pill. It also works by:

• thickening the mucus at the entrance to the womb (cervix), making it harder for sperm to reach an egg
• thinning the lining of the womb, so it’s harder for a fertilised egg to attach and grow into a baby

Most mini pills don’t stop eggs being released from the ovaries, but the pills containing desogestrel can. These include:

• Cerelle
• Cerazette
• Hana

It depends which day in your cycle you start and if you have short period cycles:

• If you start days 1 to 5 of your period you’re protected right away.
• If you start after day 5 of your period, you won’t be protected right away and you’ll need to use extra protection for 2 days.
• If you have a shorter than average period cycle, you should use extra protection for 2 days no matter when you start the pill.

If used correctly, the contraceptive pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. People sometimes forget to take their pill or do not take it at the same time every day. This makes the pill less effective, so you’re more likely to get pregnant.

Even if you do not take your pill perfectly, it’s more effective at preventing pregnancy than condoms and diaphragms. But even when taken perfectly, the contraceptive pill is slightly less effective compared to long-acting, reversible methods of contraception like the IUD (intrauterine device), IUS (intrauterine system), implant and injections.

No contraceptive is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy.

You can buy contraceptive pills online from trusted online doctor services like ZAVA. Our services are regulated and run by real doctors who can make sure you’re getting the right contraception for you.

ZAVA offers:

• quick and easy consultation services
• professional doctor assessment and prescription
• discreet, to-your-door delivery service
• comprehensive follow-up care included

➤ Start an online assessment and place an order for you contraceptive pill now

Yes, some contraceptive pills are now available over-the-counter from most UK pharmacies. Currently, only certain brands of the mini pill are available over-the-counter, including:

• Hana
• Lovima

Yes, you may be able to get your contraceptive pill on the NHS. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor, who may ask you to come in for an appointment to ask questions about your health. They may then prescribe a contraceptive pill that is suitable for you

“When taken properly, contraceptive pills are 99% effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy. It can be good to take contraceptive pills if you’re at risk of getting pregnant and a doctor, nurse or pharmacist has approved treatment for you. There are possible side effects of the pill but these are normally mild and can go away after a while.” – Dr Brenda Nomann, Medical Editor.

Contraceptive pills need to be taken once a day, around the same time. They are best taken with food but can be taken on an empty stomach if needed, in order to be taken on time.

Even though they should be taken around the same time each day, combined pills can actually be taken up to 24 hours late and still be effective. On the other hand, mini pills have to be taken within the same 3-hour window every day to be effective, except for mini pills containing desogestrel which can be taken up to 12 hours late.

STI protection on the pill: “It’s important to remember that contraceptive pills do not protect you against STIs (sexually transmitted infections). So, you should use extra protection, like a condom, if you have sex with someone and you do not know their sexual history.” – Dr Brenda Nomann, Medical Editor.

You can take the pill with any food, there’s no dietary restrictions. It’s best to take the contraceptive pill with food because it can help avoid nausea (feeling sick) as a side effect.

Drinking alcohol on the pill doesn’t stop it from working. But, alcohol can lead to stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhoea, which can stop your most recent dose from being absorbed by your body.

What to do when you forget a dose of your contraceptive pill depends on what pill you’re taking and how long it’s been since it was supposed to be taken.

If you forget a dose of the combined pill and:

• it’s less than 24 hours late, take the pill you forgot right away and take your next pill at the normal time and you will still be protected from pregnancy.
• it’s more than 48 hours late, then you’re not protected from pregnancy and need to extra protection for the next 7 days

If you forget a dose of the mini pill and:

• it’s been more than 3 hours and you’re not using a desogestrel mini pill, you’re not protected from pregnancy and you need to use extra protection for 2 days
• it’s been more than 12 hours and you’re using a desogestrel mini pill, you’re not protected from pregnancy and you need to use extra protection for 2 days

➤ See our page on forgetting the pill for more information.

All medications come with a risk of side effects. Most side effects of the pill are mild and should go away after a while.

Side effects can vary depending on the type and amounts of hormones used in each combined pill or mini pill, so you should always read the information leaflet that comes with your pill for more information on potential side effects.

➤ See our page on contraceptive pill side effects for more information.

Combined pill side effects

Common side effects of the combined contraceptive pill include:

• headaches
• mood swings
• nausea
• dizziness
• low sex drive
• sore or tender breasts
• changes to your bleeding pattern, especially in the first 3 months

Mini pill side effects

Common side effects of the progesterone only pill include:

• changes to bleeding patterns
• low sex drive
• acne
• headache
• breast pain
• nausea

The pill doesn’t cause withdrawal so you shouldn’t get any side effects from stopping, but if the pill was improving your periods you may find they get worse again after stopping.

Depending on what pill you’re on, you may get pregnant within the first few days of stopping the pill. When coming off the contraceptive pill, you will also notice any side effects from your pill will clear up and any extra benefits to your periods or other health conditions will disappear too.

“If you were experiencing temporary weight gain due to water retention as a side effect of your pill, you may lose weight after stopping. But, weight gain you experience on the pill may not be a side effect, it could be normal weight gain. You may find your weight doesn’t go down after stopping the pill.” – Dr Brenda Nomann, Medical Editor.

➤ See our weight loss service if you’d like help losing weight.

Although there are some health risks linked to using contraceptive pills, they should be safe for you if you get your medication from a regulated service like ZAVA, a GP or sexual health clinic. They’ll check your medical history to make sure it’s right for you and recommend another choice if needed.

There’s a small increased risk of breast and cervical cancer in women using combined pills compared to those who don’t. But 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk level goes back to normal. On the other hand, the combined pill can lower your risk of womb (uterus) cancer, ovarian cancer and bowel cancer.

Recent research shows there is a slightly increased risk of breast cancer on the mini pill. This increased risk is very small and disappears after some time, once you stop taking it.

Contraceptive pills that contain oestrogen (combined pills) can slightly increase your risk of blood clots if you’re already at risk of them. This risk is higher with some types of combined pills than others, depending on the type of progesterone hormone they contain.

Blood clots can cause:

• deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the leg)
• pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lung)
• stroke
• heart attack

The risk of developing a blood clot is small and your doctor should check if you have any specific risk factors that can make a clot more likely. Risk factors include if you:

• are over 35 and smoke (or if you have quit in the last year)
• are over 50
• are overweight
• have a history of migraines with aura
• have high blood pressure
• have a close relative who has had a blood clot under the age of 45
• have had a blood clot, stroke, or heart attack before
• have a heart condition called atrial fibrillation or angina
• are immobile
• have a hereditary (inherited from your parents) blood clotting condition

The list above doesn’t include every risk factor known. When starting or reordering contraceptives, you should always give your doctor or nurse information on any old or new medical conditions.

Some medications can react with your pill or patch, making it less effective or safe, including:

• antibiotics like rifampicin
• some epilepsy medications
• some HIV medications
• St John's wort

You should tell healthcare professionals (your doctor, nurse or pharmacist) about any medication you’re taking, including over-the-counter or herbal remedies.

The pill isn’t safe for everyone, which is why a doctor, nurse or pharmacist has to check before you can start the pill. As long as a qualified healthcare professional has approved the pill for you, it should be safe.

There is a difference between who can take the combined pill and who can take the mini pill.

Who can’t use the combined pill

The combined pill may not be right for you if:

• you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
• you smoke or you’ve stopped smoking in the last year and you’re 35 or over
• you’re overweight
• you’ve had blood clots or you have a family history of blood clots
• you’ve had a stroke
• you’ve got a heart condition or high blood pressure
• you get severe migraines with an aura
• you’ve got a history of breast cancer
• you’ve had gallbladder or liver disease
• you’ve had diabetes with complications in the last 20 years

Who can’t use the mini pill

The mini pill may not be right for you if:

• you may be pregnant
• you get unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex
• you’ve had artery disease, heart disease or strokes
• you’ve had breast cancer before
• you’ve had liver disease, including cirrhosis or liver tumours