Logynon

Logynon is a combined contraceptive pill. It contains ingredients that are like the natural sex hormones that control your menstrual cycle:

• Ethinylestradiol, which is a type of synthetic oestrogen
• Levonorgestrel, which is a type of progesterone

Logynon is a triphasic pill which means there are 3 sections of pills that contain different levels of hormones. Each section has a different colour to make it easier for you to take them in order:

• phase I contains 6 light brown tablets
• phase II contains 5 white tablets tablets
• phase III contains 10 ochre (yellow)

These different hormone levels mimic how your body's hormones change during your menstrual cycle. After taking all 21 pills, you will have a 7 day pill free break.

Logynon ED is also available. ED means taking a pill every day for 28 days. Logynon ED contains 7 inactive pills that do not contain any hormones. The inactive pills are white and larger than the active pills.

During your 7 day break or 7 inactive pill days, you will have some withdrawal bleeding. This will be similar to your period, but lighter and less painful. You can also manage heavy or painful periods by taking Logynon.

Logynon is straightforward to take but you should make sure you are taking the pills in the right order.

When you take Logynon for the first time you can start taking it on the first day of your period. If you have regular periods then your contraceptive protection starts straight away. If you start at any other time in your menstrual cycle, use extra protection, like condoms, for the first 7 days.

Take each Logynon pill at the same time each day and:

• start by taking the pill marked ‘1’
• swallow the pill whole with some water
• follow the direction of the arrows on the foil to take your pill every day

There is a red section on the blister foil that you can pierce to remember which day you took your first pill. This will help when you start to take your next blister strip.

You can take Logynon with or without food.

After these 21 days, you will have a 7 day pill free break. If you are taking Logynon ED, you will continue to take the inactive pills for 7 days.

As long as you start your next strip on time, you’ll have contraceptive protection during the pill free week. This means you do not need to use extra contraception.

You might still have withdrawal bleeding when you start your next blister strip, but this is normal. Do not wait for your bleeding to stop before you take your next pill as this can delay contraception.

What if I miss a pill?

If you forget to take a pill and it’s been:

• less than 24 hours since you were due to take it, take the pill as soon as possible. You’ll still be protected against pregnancy so you do not need extra contraception.
• more than 24 hours since you forgot to take a pill or you have missed more than 1 pill, take the most recent pill as soon as you remember. This means you might take 2 pills on the same day. You should contact your doctor or pharmacist to check if emergency contraception is needed.

Check how many pills are remaining in the blister strip:

• if there are 7 or more pills left, continue taking them as normal with a pill free break
• if there are less than 7 pills left, continue taking your pills and start the next blister strip without a pill free break

If you do not bleed after your second blister strip, speak to your doctor as you may be pregnant. You can also do a pregnancy test to check.

What if I throw up?

Vomiting and diarrhoea can affect your pill dose. If you vomit or have diarrhoea within 4 hours after taking a pill, you might not be fully protected. In this case, use extra contraception for the duration of time that you are unwell and the following 7 days if you plan on having sex. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist about whether emergency contraception is needed.

You might need to take the morning after pill or an emergency cooper coil:

• if you have had unprotected sex in the 7 days before you’ve missed a pill
• after you’ve missed a pill but before you’ve been able to take Logynon again for 7 days in a row

Logynon works by stopping ovulation. To trigger your ovaries to release an egg, oestrogen and progesterone need to be at certain levels for your ovaries to respond. Logynon stops hormones from getting to that level so that ovulation does not take place.

Logynon makes the fluid in your cervix thicker to create a barrier for sperm to enter your uterus. The hormones also stop the lining of your womb from getting thicker. This means a fertilised egg can not implant in your womb.

With perfect use, Logynon is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Perfect use means being able to take the pill at the same time every day without missing any pills.

But we’re only human! You may forget to take a pill or take a pill later than normal. This is called typical use. With typical use, your contraceptive protection is around 91%. This is still a low risk of getting pregnant. If you use extra contraception on the days you have missed a pill, you will lower your risk of becoming pregnant even further. You may also need to use extra contraception for the 7 days following your missed pill.

Logynon does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). You should use a barrier method of contraception such as condoms to protect yourself against STIs. If you think you might have an STI, speak to your doctor or request a test kit from ZAVA.

The side effects of Logynon are related to the active ingredients. Hormonal medication can sometimes make you feel unwell when you start to take them. The side effects can take time to resolve. If you’re concerned about any side effects of Logynon, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick
• headaches
• mood swings or depressive moods
• sore breasts

Uncommon side effects include:

• being sick
• migraine
• loss of interest in sex
• increase in breast size
• skin rash
• fluid retention

If you start having migraines whilst taking Logynon you should contact your doctor and change to a progesterone only or alternative method of contraception as soon as possible to prevent serious side effects. If you notice any changes to your breasts it’s also important to speak to your doctor about this.

Manufacturers list weight gain as a potential side effect of combined pills but more recent studies have shown there isn’t a link between taking a combined pill like Logynon and weight gain.

When you take a hormonal contraceptive, your chance of getting a blood clot slightly increases.

The risk of blood clots is very rare. Women who do not take any hormonal medication are still at risk of developing a blood clot. Blood clots can happen in your lungs, known as pulmonary embolism, or your legs, known as deep vein thrombosis.

If you notice any of the following symptoms after taking Logynon, contact 999 immediately:

• shortness of breath
• swelling or redness in your leg
• chest pain
• fainting
• coughing up blood

If you notice any other severe side effects please contact a doctor immediately.

If you want to know more information about side effects, read the patient information leaflet.

You can take Logynon if you are looking for effective and reliable contraception.

In some cases, you should not take Logynon. This includes if you:

• are pregnant or could be pregnant
• are breastfeeding a baby under 6 weeks old
• have ever had a blood clot
• are allergic to any of the ingredients in Logynon
• have a condition that increases your risk of blood clots
• have had a heart attack or stroke
• have had angina (chest pain)
• have medical conditions that affect your blood vessels
• have had migraine with aura
• have had breast cancer
• are taking medications that interact with Logynon

Some conditions can make it more likely for you to get a clot in your arteries. These include severe diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. You should seek medical advice before taking Logynon if you have these conditions.

Speak to your doctor if you are going to have an operation that requires you to be off your feet for a long time in recovery. You may have to change to a different method of contraception around this time to lower your risk of blood clots after your surgery.

You should always speak to a doctor before taking Logynon but especially if you:

• are overweight
• are over the age of 35
• smoke
• have a condition effecting your stomach or bowels
• have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• have a family history of blood clots
• have had an organ transplant
• have had gallbladder problems
• have a history of heart conditions
• have liver disease
• have recently given birth
• are breastfeeding a baby older than 6 weeks old

Your doctor will be able to check if Logynon is a suitable method of contraception for you.

For a full list of conditions, read the patient information leaflet found in your pack.

Logynon can interact with certain medications. This may reduce the effectiveness of Logynon. Logynon can also interfere with how your other medications work.

Medications which can interact with Logynon include:

• treatment for HIV such as ritonavir
• an antifungal medication called griseofulvin
• epilepsy treatment such as phenytoin, topiramate or carbamazepine
• EllaOne, an emergency contraceptive
• a herbal remedy, such as St John’s wort

Some antibiotics can also affect how Logynon works, such as rifampicin. The more commonly used antibiotics, like amoxicillin, are safe for you to use with contraceptive pills.

Other medications can interact with Logynon so it’s best to tell your doctor if you take and medications or start any new medications whilst taking Logynon.

There are many alternative contraceptive pills and methods available if Logynon is not right for you.

If you prefer a standard combined pill that does not have changing hormone levels, you can try a pill like Microgynon 30.

The mini pill, or progesterone only pill, is just as effective as a combined pill. If you cannot take oestrogen containing products, the mini pill may be a perfect alternative for you.

You do not need to take a pill free break with the mini pill as you will continuously take a pill every day in each 28 day cycle. ZAVA has a wide range of progesterone only pills, including Cerelle.

There are several other types of contraceptive methods, including patches, the implant or the coil. Our guide on types of contraception explains these methods in detail to help you make the right choice for yourself.