Femodene Combined Contraceptive Pill

Femodene is a combined contraceptive pill that is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. Each Femodene pill contains two synthetic hormones called ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and gestodene (progesterone), which mimic the hormones in your body to prevent ovulation. By stopping ovulation, your chance of becoming pregnant is significantly reduced.

Research also shows that combined pills like Femodene can:

• reduce the symptoms of acne
• help women who experience heavy, painful or irregular periods

What type of birth control is Femodene?

Femodene is a type of birth control known as a combined oral contraceptive pill. It contains 2 types of female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen.

Femodene tablets contain synthetic (man-made) versions of the natural hormones oestrogen (ethinylestradiol) and progesterone (gestodene). These hormones cause changes in your body that help to prevent pregnancy.

Femodene works by stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg, as well as thickening the mucus layer in your cervix. This makes it harder for sperm to reach and fertilise the egg, as well as making it more difficult for any fertilised egg to implant itself into the lining of your womb.

These changes are completely reversible. When you stop taking the Femodene contraceptive pill or any type of pill, there is a high chance that you will be able to get pregnant.

How long does Femodene take to work?

If you start Femodene on days 1 to 5 of your period, you should be protected from pregnancy straight away, unless you have a short or irregular menstrual cycle.

If you take your first Femodene pill after day 5 of your period, or have a short or irregular menstrual cycle, then you’ll need to use other contraceptive methods such as condoms for 7 days.

Is Femodene high in oestrogen?

Femodene is known as a low-dose pill because it contains 30 micrograms of oestrogen which means it may be associated with fewer side effects and health risks.

When taken correctly, Femodene is one of the most reliable and effective forms of contraception, preventing over 99% of pregnancies. But sometimes missed pills can happen. When we take into account missed pills or other irregularities, Femodene effectiveness is around 91%. This means less than 9 women out of 100 will get pregnant when taking Femodene with typical use.

What are the benefits of Femodene?

As well as preventing pregnancy, there are other Femodene benefits, such as:

• Taking Femodene does not interrupt sex.
• It’s an easy and convenient contraception method.
• Femodene can make your periods lighter, more regular, and less painful.
• It may help to alleviate some pre-menstrual symptoms.
• It may help with acne.

You can safely and legally buy Femodene online from trusted and reputable online doctor services like ZAVA. Femodene is a prescription-only medication, so you will need to speak with a doctor and get a prescription before you can buy it. It is not available over the counter.

How to buy Femodene online

You can buy Femodene online directly from ZAVA. The process is quick, easy, and confidential. To buy Femodene, simply:

• Fill out our short online medical questionnaire
• One of our registered doctors will review your answers to make sure it is safe and appropriate for you to take Femodene
• If it is, we will post it directly to an address of your choice or you can arrange to collect it from your local Post Office

To take Femodene, follow the days of the week printed on the strip of pills.

If you’re taking Femodene with a 7-day break, you should:

• start on the day of the week it is and take 1 pill with a glass of water
• take the pill at the same time each day
• after you have finished taking 21 pills, take a 7-day pill-free break
• after 7 days, start the next blister strip of 21 pills

You will still be protected against pregnancy during this 7-day break if you remember to start your next strip of pills on time. If you’ve taken Femodene every day, you will start the next strip on the same day of the week as the month before.

You might still be bleeding when you start your new strip. This is normal and should not stop you from taking your pill.

If you’re taking Femodene continuously, you should:

• start on the day of the week it is and take 1 pill with a glass of water
• take the pill at the same time each day
• after you have finished taking 21 pills, start the next packet straight away, without a break
• continue like this until you no longer wish to use the contraceptive pill

If you’re taking Femodene on an extended regime, you should:

• start on the day of the week it is and take 1 pill with a glass of water
• take the pill at the same time each day
• after you have finished taking 21 pills, start the next packet straight away, without a break
• you’ll usually take 2 or 3 packets in a row before having a 4-7 day break and then restarting these steps again

If you’re taking Femodene ED:

• peel off the sticker with the day of the week you have started taking the pill on
• place this sticker on top of the strip so that the first pill is marked with ‘start’
• take 1 pill every day for 28 days and follow the directions of the arrows, do not miss any pills
• start a new pack straight away once you have finished your strip of 28 pills

When can I start taking Femodene?

You can start taking Femodene at any time during your menstrual cycle. If you want immediate protection from pregnancy, you’ll need to start Femodene on days 1 to 5 of your period. If you start taking Femodene after this, then you’ll need to use another method of contraceptive protection for 7 days, such as condoms.

Can you take Femodene continuously?

Yes, you can take Femodene continuously without taking a break. Some women choose to take their pills back to back to reduce the symptoms they experience during their periods. Taking Femodene pills in this way means you will not experience a monthly withdrawal bleed.

Femodene missed pill: What if I miss a pill?

If you forget to take your pill, there are a few steps you need to follow.

If it’s been less than 24 hours:

• Take it as soon as you remember and continue as normal following this, even if you’re taking 2 pills close together.
• You’ll still be protected from pregnancy during this time.

If you’ve missed 1 Femodene pill and it’s over 24 hours late:

• Take your missed pill straight away then resume taking your pills as normal.
• This may mean taking 2 pills together.
• You’ll still be protected from pregnancy, as long as you don’t miss another pill.

If you’ve missed 2 or more Femodene pills:

• Take an active pill as soon as you remember, then continue as normal.
• You’ll need another form of contraception to prevent pregnancy for 7 days. If these 7 days run into your pill-free break, start your next packet and skip your pill-free break this time.
• Emergency contraception is recommended if you miss 2 or more Femodene pills from the first 7 in your pill packet and you’ve had unprotected sex since finishing your last pill packet.

If you miss a pill and are not sure what to do, you can speak to a pharmacist or call a doctor.

Taking hormonal medication can cause side effects, including oral contraceptives like Femodene. These side effects will usually disappear with continued use and you should start to feel better after a couple of weeks.

Common Femodene side effects include:

• nausea
• stomach ache
• weight gain
• headaches
• mood swings
• depressive moods
• sore breasts

Uncommon Femodene side effects include:

• vomiting - if you vomit or have diarrhoea within 4 hours of taking a pill, your body may not have absorbed it. Follow missed pill advice if this is the case.
• fluid retention
• migraine
• loss of sex drive
• increase in breast size
• skin rash

If your side effects are affecting your daily activities, you may need an alternative contraceptive pill. Speak to your doctor if you are unsure of what to do.

If you notice any signs of a blood clot, stop taking Femodene and contact 999 immediately. These can include:

• unusual shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• pain or swelling in one leg
• sharp chest pain
• severe dizziness
• severe headache or migraine

For a full list of the side effects of Femodene, read the patient information leaflet.

You can take the Femodene contraceptive pill if you are a woman and want a convenient and simple method of contraception.

Femodene ED tablets are ideal if you feel you will forget to start a new strip of pills after your 7-day break. As Femodene ED contains 7 inactive pills, you will continue to take a pill every day. This helps you keep up the habit of pill-taking so you will not miss any.

If you have any condition that means you’re unable to take products that contain oestrogen, Femodene might not be suitable for you. The mini pill, such as Cerelle, might be a better alternative for you.

Do not take Femodene pills if you:

• are pregnant
• are allergic to any of the ingredients in Femodene
• have ever had a blood clot
• have a blood clotting disorder
• have ever had a heart attack, stroke, angina (chest pain) or a transient ischemic attack
• have severe diabetes
• have high blood pressure (hypertension)
• have very high blood fat levels (cholesterol)
• have hyperhomocysteinemia
• have ever had a migraine with an aura
• have ever had breast cancer
• have ever had liver disease or liver tumours

If you are scheduled to have surgery and will be off your feet for some time, speak to your doctor or surgeon. Being immobile for a long time can increase your risk of blood clots. Your doctor may advise that you stop taking Femodene for a short while.

Speak to your doctor before taking a Femodene pill if you:

• have recently given birth
• are breastfeeding
• smoke and are over 35 years old
• are overweight
• have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• have systemic lupus erythematosus
• have sickle cell anaemia
• have diabetes
• have varicose veins
• have migraines
• have a family history of heart problems
• have a family history of blood clotting problems

These conditions may increase your risk of having a blood clot if you take Femodene. Your doctor will be able to discuss with you whether taking Femodene pills or any combined contraceptive is suitable for you.

Certain medications can interact with the ingredients in Femodene. Femodene effectiveness can also be reduced by these medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking any prescription medications or products that you have bought from a pharmacy or health shop.

Some medications that interact with Femodene include:

• treatment for epilepsy, such as carbamazepine or phenytoin
• treatment for HIV or hepatitis C, including ritonavir or nevirapine
• antifungal medications such as griseofulvin or itraconazole
• certain antibiotics such as rifampicin
• the herbal remedy St John’s wort

For more information, read the patient information leaflet that comes with Femodene.

There are many Femodene alternative types of contraception available.

If you still want to use a combined hormonal contraceptive, you can consider:

• Microgynon, which contains ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel
• Yasmin, which contains ethinylestradiol and drospirenone
• Gedarel, which contains ethinylestradiol and desogestrel

The type of progestogen will change depending on the product. If you get side effects from one combined pill, you might find using another with a different progestogen or lower oestrogen is more suitable.

You might also consider a combined contraceptive patch, like Evra. Evra patches are left on for 7 days, which might be easier for you if you tend to forget to take pills.

If the combined pill is giving you side effects, you may consider taking the mini pill, such as Cerazette, Cerelle, or Hana. With the mini pill, there is no oestrogen and you do not need to take a 7-day break.

Speaking to a doctor or visiting a sexual health clinic can help you decide which contraceptive pill is best for you.

Millinette and Femodene: Is Millinette the same as Femodene?

Millinette and Femodene contain the same hormones, 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg of gestodene. So, they contain the same active ingredients and work in the same way, the only difference is the brand name.

Millinette is also available in a lower dose containing 20 mcg of oestrogen and 75 mcg of gestodene. Because this type contains less oestrogen, it is not the same as Femodene.

Femodette vs Femodene

Femodette and Femodene are similar pills because they contain the same active ingredients but in different doses. Femodette contains 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg of gestodene. Femodene contains 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 75 mcg of gestodene.

ZAVA has been reviewed by over 3800 people on Trustpilot, receiving an average rating of 4.4 stars. Femodene has a review rating of 3.3 out of 5 on The Lowdown – you can check out the reviews from real women who have used the medication.

Femodene is an example of a combined oral contraceptive pill which is suitable for most women to take. It may be a good pill for you if you want to manage period problems or you have acne. It may not be suitable for you if you are over 35 and smoke or have specific medical conditions. However, your doctor will make sure that the Femodene contraceptive pill is the best choice for you based on your medical history.