Femodette

Femodette is a combined contraceptive pill, which contains both a synthetic version of oestrogen (20 micrograms (mcg) ethinylestradiol) and progesterone (75 mcg gestodene).

When taken as prescribed, Femodette, like most combined contraceptive pills, is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Combined contraceptives like Femodette have proven benefits in addition to their purpose of contraception. Clinical studies have found that combined contraceptives like Femodette can also make periods regular, lighter and less painful if you suffer from heavy or painful periods.

Another study also found that combined contraceptives can alleviate and improve overall premenstrual symptoms and mood swings (such as bouts of depression).

The 2 synthetic hormones in Femodette, ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and gestodene (progesterone) work by:

• preventing ovaries from releasing an egg during ovulation
• thickening the mucus around the cervix (which makes it harder for sperm to reach the womb)
• keeping the womb lining thin so an egg cannot attach to it and grow

Femodette will not be effective if you have been sick or have had diarrhoea within 4 hours of taking it.

You should use another form of contraceptive (such as a condom) to be safe if this occurs. Be sure to check the patient information leaflet for instructions on what to do next if this applies to you.

How long does Femodette take to work?

As you start to take Femodette on the first five days of your period, contraceptive protection begins straight away. If you start taking it after this it will take 7 days to start working and you’ll need extra protection in the meantime.

How effective is Femodette?

Like all combined contraceptives, Femodette is over 99% effective if you take it correctly as instructed by your doctor and if you follow the instructions in the patient information leaflet.

Femodette can become less effective if you miss days that you are supposed to take it.

Please note that Femodette will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you think you might have an STI you can order an STI Test Kit with us at ZAVA and have a consultation with one of our online doctors.

Femodette comes in a strip marked with the days of the week, containing 21 pills. You should start to take Femodette on the first day of your cycle (the first day of your period).

Most people choose to take 1 pill daily for 21 days on the correct day of the week, following the marked strip.

After the 21 days, you should have a 7-day pill break (meaning you should take no pills during this time). During this break you may experience a withdrawal bleed, this is normal and is similar to a period but is likely to be less painful and lighter.

After your pill break, you can start your next strip, even if you are still experiencing a withdrawal bleed.

If you have taken your pills correctly and on time, you do not need to use contraception during your pill-free days.

Other ways you can also take Femodette include:

• continuously – you can take Femodette continuously, without a pill-free break.
• tricycling – it is also safe to take Femodette without a 7-day break until you have finished the box of 3 strips. Once you have finished, you can take a 4-day break instead of a 7-day break before restarting the next one. This means you would bleed every 3 months (rather than each month).

Tricycling might be right for you if you get symptoms such as period pain, premenstrual tension (PMT), migraine, and other headaches. Speak with your doctor if you have these side effects while taking the pill and think that tricycling might be a better way to take your contraceptive.

You must follow the instructions of your doctor when taking Femodette to ensure it is effective, and refer to the patient information leaflet.

How long do I need to take Femodette for?

Take Femodette for as long as you would like to prevent pregnancy. Or, you can take Femodette for as long as you need to alleviate menstrual symptoms if your doctor has prescribed the pill to you for this reason.

How long is it safe to take Femodette for?

Taking Femodette long-term is safe, as long as a doctor agrees it is. Many people take Femodette without issue for years, but it is important to do an annual pill review with a doctor to make sure it’s still the right option for you.

If things change with your health this medication may not be safe to continue and you should speak with your doctor, for example if you:

• develop migraines
• get high blood pressure
• need surgery
• become at risk of breast cancer or develop it

You should also get regular checkups when called for them by your GP, such as cervical smear tests and breast screenings.

What should I do if I miss a pill?

If you miss a pill and:

It has been less than 12 hours since taking your last pill – take it straight away, and keep taking your pills as usual (even if you take 2 in one day). Your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

It has been more than 12 hours since taking your last pill – your contraceptive protection might be reduced, be sure to:

• take the pill you just recently missed as soon as you remember, even if you take 2 at once
• continue to take a pill each day for the next 7 days at your usual time
• if you come to the end of a strip of pills during these 7 days, start the next strip without taking a 7-day break (you likely won’t bleed after you finish this second strip, this is normal)
• if you do not bleed after your second strip do a pregnancy test before starting the next one
• use extra contraception for 7 days after missing a pill (like condoms)

If you missed 1 or more pills from the first week of your strip (days 1 to 7) and have had sex during that week, you might be pregnant. You should contact your doctor, pharmacist or family planning nurse as soon as possible. They may advise that you take emergency contraception.

Find more detailed information on missed pills in your Femodette patient information leaflet. This information includes details on what to do if you have:

• lost or missed a pill
• been sick or have diarrhoea

You can buy Femodette online. Femodette is a prescription-only medication, so you'll need a prescription from a licensed healthcare professional before you can buy it. It’s important to only request Femodette online from trusted online services like ZAVA, which are monitored and regulated to ensure you receive safe and genuine medication.

Getting Femodette with a prescription online from ZAVA is quick and convenient, with no need for a face-to-face appointment:

• Complete a short online medical questionnaire – share details about your health so our doctors can ensure Femodette is right for you.
• Order and pay online – sign in or create your ZAVA account, select Femodette, and securely make your payment.
• Doctor review and approval – a UK-licensed doctor will check your health information and approve your prescription request if Femodette is safe and appropriate for you.
• Fast and discreet delivery – if approved, Femodette will be delivered discreetly to your home or a local post office for collection.

Can you get Femodette over the counter?

No, Femodette is a prescription-only medication. You need a prescription from a doctor before you can get Femodette, so you would not be able to get it over the counter from a pharmacy. Hana is an example of a contraceptive pill which is available over the counter.

Can you get Femodette on the NHS?

Some local GP clinics and NHS sexual health clinics may offer Femodette depending on their local guidelines. To see if you meet their guidelines it requires a face-to-face appointment to discuss your contraceptive options.

Like most medications, Femodette can cause side effects, but not everybody gets them.

Common side effects include:

• stomach ache
• feeling sick (nausea)
• headaches
• weight gain (often due to fluid retention)
• sore breasts
• depressive, low mood or mood changes (swings)

Uncommon side effects include:

• being sick and stomach ache
• migraine
• breast enlargement
• rash on skin (itchy)
• low libido (reduced interest in sex)
• fluid retention

Rare side effects include:

• weight loss
• increased libido (heightened interest in sex)
• poor tolerance of contact lenses
• vaginal discharge
• breast discharge

Stop taking Femodette immediately, dial 999, go to A&E, or contact your doctor if you get any of the following serious, rare side effects (affecting only 1 and 10 in every 10,000 users).

Blood clots in a vein or artery:

• throbbing or cramping pain
• swelling
• redness
• warmth in leg or arm
• breathlessness
• sharp chest pains
• coughing up blood

Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis):

• swelling of hands, face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
• difficulty swallowing or breathing
• rash, itching, or hives

How long do side effects last?

If you experience side effects with Femodette, they should subside after the first few months of taking it. This is because in the first few months of taking the pill, your body is adjusting to the hormone changes it is creating.

If you have side effects and they become bothersome or get in the way of your daily life, speak with your doctor.

What should I do if I get Femodette side effects?

As your body adjusts to the hormonal changes, you may feel bothered by the side effects of Femodette. Treat them at home if you can, such as with rest, over-the-counter painkillers, and by keeping hydrated. If you experience side effects that are bothering you, or do not go away after 3 months, you should speak with your doctor. They might suggest that you take another pill instead.

If you experience any serious side effects dial 999, visit A&E or speak to your doctor immediately.

Femodette may not be right for everyone. Certain health conditions or other medications can affect the way Femodette works and make it less effective, or potentially unsafe.

Your doctor should ask about your personal and family medical background to ensure Femodette is safe for you. Be sure to inform your doctor of any history of blood clots, breast cancer, or cervical cancer.

You should not use Femodette if you:

• have ever had a blood clot in a blood vessel in your legs, lungs, or other organs
• are aware of a disorder you have that can affect your blood clotting (see more in patient information leaflet)
• need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time
• have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• have or have ever had angina pectoris or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
• have very high blood pressure
• have a condition known as hyperhomocysteinemia
• experience migraines with aura
• have or have ever had breast cancer
• have or have ever had severe liver disease
• have ever had liver tumours
• are allergic to ingredients in Femodette
• have sickle cell anaemia
• have just given birth
• have heart and circulation problems
• have systemic lupus

Do not take Femodette if you are pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

Femodette can interact with certain medications. It may be the case that other medications you are taking can affect how Femodette works, or Femodette could affect how the medication you’re currently taking works.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking medications:

• to treat epilepsy
• to treat HIV and Hepatitis C
• for fungal infections, such as griseofulvin
• such as sedatives
• that are herbal remedies, such as St John’s wort
• for bacterial infections, like the antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin

You must inform your doctor what medication you are currently taking or are thinking about taking.

You can find more information on general warnings and medication interactions when taking Femodette in the patient information leaflet.

There are a range of alternatives to Femodette. At ZAVA, we offer over 30 treatments, including but not limited to:

• Microgynon 30 – combined contraceptive pill that can also alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding and period pain
• Cerelle – progestogen-only pill, suitable if you cannot take oestrogen
• Cerazette – progestogen-only pill, suitable if you are over the age of 35, smoke, or have high blood pressure
• Yasmin – combined contraceptive, can alleviate acne
• Lucette – combined contraceptive, can help with PMS symptoms
• Femodene – combined contraceptive, can help with painful periods and acne
• Mercilon – low-dose combined contraceptive

Browse and discover our range of contraceptives here at ZAVA.

Femodene vs Femodette

There is not much difference between Femodette and Femodene, except for the dosage amount.

Femodette contains a lower dose of the synthetic oestrogen, ethinylestradiol (20 mcg). Femodene contains 30mcg of ethinylestradiol. So, the Femodette pill may be more suitable for you if you require a lower dose of oestrogen. If you are currently taking Femodene but think Femodette might be more suited to you, speak with your doctor.

Femodette vs Millinette

Femodette and Millinette contain the same hormones (gestodene and ethinylestradiol) and are both available in 75mcg/20mcg tablets. But while Femodette contains only 20mcg of ethinylestradiol, Millinette also comes in a higher dose of 30mcg.

They are also manufactured by different companies. Femodette is manufactured by Bayer PLC, and Millinette is manufactured by Gedeon Richter Ltd. There is currently no generic version of this contraceptive.

Femodette vs Yasmin

Both Femodette and Yasmin are combined contraceptive pills, meaning that they contain synthetic versions of progesterone and oestrogen. They are both manufactured by Bayer PLC.

Yasmin contains more oestrogen than Femodette – 30mcg of ethinylestradiol in Yasmin vs 20mcg. They also contain different types of synthetic progesterone (gestodene in Femodette vs drospirenone in Yasmin).

Femodette vs Loestrin 20 and Loestrin 30

Femodette and Loestrin are both combined contraceptives. Femodette contains the same amount (20 mcg) of synthetic oestrogen (ethinylestradiol) as Loestrin 20. In 2019, Galen Pharma gave an update on Loestrin’s discontinuation due to problems with supplies. If you previously had taken Loestrin due to its low oestrogen dosage, Femodette might be a suitable alternative for you.

If you are still unsure whether Femodette is right for you, browse our large range of contraceptive pills at ZAVA or complete our contraceptive pill questionnaire and one of our doctors will suggest a pill for you.

➤ Want to find out more about the contraceptive pill before ordering? See our page on finding the best contraceptive pill for you.