Get safe, effective contraceptive pills & birth control online
Find out which method of birth control is right for you with our online consultation. You can get clinician-approved contraceptive pills (like the combined pill) or other birth control methods (like the patch or the vaginal ring) in a few simple steps. Get up to 12 months’ protection delivered to your door or pick it up the same day at your local LloydsPharmacy.
Find out which method of birth control is right for you with our online consultation. You can get clinician-approved contraceptive pills (like the combined pill) or other birth control methods (like the patch or the vaginal ring) in a few simple steps. Get up to 12 months’ protection delivered to your door or pick it up the same day at your local LloydsPharmacy.
If you’re not sure, have a read about the different types of birth control we provide. They’re all hormonal – meaning they contain artificial hormones to stop you getting pregnant. Used properly, they’re effective for 99% of women.
On this page
Combined pill
Combined contraceptive pills, like Yasmin, Rigevidon, Lucette and Microgynon, contain two hormones: progestogen and oestrogen. They prevent you from releasing an egg (ovulating), which means you can’t get pregnant. You’ll need yearly blood pressure and BMI checks when taking this type of pill.
How you take it One pill a day and at the same time each day. With most combined pills, you take them for 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day break. During your break, you’ll probably have a withdrawal bleed. If you bleed heavily or painfully, have headaches or mood swings on pill-free days, you can skip the break.
You can also take the pill:
Every day for 9 weeks, followed by a 4 or 7-break
Everyday continuously
Everyday for at least 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day break
Possible side effects These vary, but you may find your blood pressure increases. So you'll need to get this checked either at home or in-store before you can take this type of pill. After that you’ll need these checked at least yearly. There’s also a slightly higher risk of blood clots.
Low-dose combined
Low-dose pills, such as Gedarel, also contain progestogen and oestrogen – but less oestrogen than regular combined pills. This means some side effects are reduced.
How you take it One pill a day and at the same time each day. With most low-dose combined pills, you take them for 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day break. During your break, you’ll probably have a withdrawal bleed. If you bleed heavily or painfully or have headaches or mood swings on pill-free days, you can skip the break.
You can also take the pill:
Every day for 9 weeks, followed by a 4 or 7-break
Everyday continuously
Everyday for at least 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day break
Possible side effects With a low-dose pill you’re more likely to experience irregular bleeding. Your blood pressure may also increase, so you'll need to have this checked before you take the pill, and at least once a year after that.
The mini pill (progestogen-only pill or POP)
Mini pills, like Cerazette and Cerelle (or the generic version Desogestrel), only contain the progestogen hormone. If you can’t take the combined pill, are overweight, or have had blood clots or high blood pressure, they could be a good option.
How you take it You take one a day. And it’s very important that it’s at the same time, every day. Unlike with combined pills, there’s no pill-free break.
Possible side effects The most likely one is that you bleed irregularly, but this should settle down within three months of starting the pill. There’s no need for blood pressure or BMI checks with the mini pill.
Contraceptive patch and vaginal ring
Like the combined pill, both the patch and the ring contain progestogen and oestrogen hormones – they’re just delivered into your body differently.
How you use them You wear the contraceptive patch (Evra) on your skin – anywhere clean, dry and not too hairy. It’s about 5cm square and you change it once a week.
If you choose the vaginal ring (NuvaRing), you insert this into your vagina yourself. Don’t worry, it’s easy to do. You change it every 3 weeks, on the same day at the same time.
Normally, you use patches or rings for 21 days, then take a break for 4 or 7 days. But you can also use them:
For 9 weeks followed by a 4 or 7-day break
Continuously with no break
For at least 21 days, followed by a 4 or 7-day break
How reliable are they? Used properly, they’re 99% effective. Plus, they’re not affected by stomach upsets – and you don’t have to remember to take a pill each day!
Of course, there’s a risk the patch might come unstuck or the ring dislodged. So it’s best to check it regularly. If you replace it straight away, you should still be protected.
Possible side effects Most women don’t get any – but headaches, skin irritation, nausea and tender breasts are the most common ones. There’s also a slightly higher risk of blood clots.
Choose from recommended options in your Patient Record
Pharmacy
You’ll be informed by email if your contraception has been approved and prescribed by one of our NHS-experienced clinicians
Get 3, 6 or 12 months of protection delivered to your door – or collect the same day from any LloydsPharmacy.
Our range of contraceptives
All the hormonal contraceptives below are 99% effective if used properly. Select filters to find a suitable option. Need emergency contraception? We can help with our morning-after pill service.
Here are your recommended treatments based on your answers
Choose the filters relevant to you
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Unless you want the mini pill, you'll need recent measurements of your height, weight and blood pressure (by recent we mean within 12 months). Alternatively, collect from any of our nationwide pharmacies (including in some Sainsbury's) and have the checks done there free of charge.
Microgynon 30
Microgynon 30
A branded combined contraceptive pill. It's reliable and effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
Cerazette is an effective branded mini pill or POP (progestogen-only pill). It's a good alternative to combined contraceptive pills for women who are over 35 or smoke.
Take daily with no pill break
No need for blood pressure, height and weight checks
Yasmin is a reliable combined contraceptive pill. When taken correctly, it's 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. It can be taken in a variety of ways.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
Eloine is a an effective low-dose contraceptive pill that contains less oestrogen than the regular combined pill. It's 99% effective when taken correctly.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Low dose can mean fewer side effects
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
Ovranette is an effective generic combined contraceptive pill. The generic version of Microgynon, it's reliable and 99% effective when taken correctly.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
A combined 'every day' contraceptive pill that's easy to remember to take. Contains a 3-week supply of active pills and a 1-week supply of larger inactive pills (with no active ingredients).
Take 1 pill daily (21 active and 7 inactive pills in pack)
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
A tri-phasic combined contraceptive pill that's 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. Logynon causes fewer side effects for some women.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
The 21-day variation of Femodene ED, containing the same ingredients. It has the same contraceptive effect and is a reliable branded birth control pill.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
Katya is the generic version of the combined contraceptive pill Femodene. It works in the same way, is effective birth control, and has the same side effects.
Take daily for 21 days, with a 4 or 7-day break
Combines progestogen and oestrogen
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
A combined 'every day' contraceptive pill that's easy to remember to take. Contains a 3-week supply of active pills and a 1-week supply of larger inactive pills (with no active ingredients).
Take 1 pill daily (21 active and 7 inactive pills in pack)
Need yearly blood pressure, height and weight measurements
Most types of hormonal contraceptives have them, and they vary from person to person. If you find a pill that doesn’t agree with you, try another. In the end, almost all women find a contraceptive that suits them.
One possible side effect of the pill is raising your blood pressure. This can be dangerous. If you start to feel ill or get symptoms that worry you, such as:
Blurred vision
Nose bleeds
Dizziness
Chest pain
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Please call NHS 111 or, if you think it’s urgent, go to your nearest A&E.
What to do if something goes wrong
You might forget to take your pill. Your patch might come off, or your ring is dislodged. What to do next depends on the contraceptive you’re using.
Check the treatments information page on our site or the leaflet that came with it. Alternatively, message us from your Patient Record, or contact your GP or family planning or sexual health clinic.
If you're taking contraception like the pill, patch or ring, these don't stop you catching STIs. And you will still need to use condoms to protect yourself. You can order condoms online or get them from your local pharmacy or supermarket.
If you've had unprotected sex, you might want to get an STI test. You can order at-home STI test kits from Online Doctor, we'll send the kit with everything you need to take the test and send it back to the lab for analysis. You'll usually get your results within three working days of the kit arriving in the lab.
It's recommended that everyone gets tested at least every six months, or every time you have a new sexual partner.
Delivery & collection information
Standard delivery
Free
Delivered within 3-5 working days. Your delivery might not require a signature. If you're not going to be in you can update your delivery preferences in the courier's app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place.
Express delivery
£4.95
Orders approved before 4pm Monday-Friday will arrive within 1-2 working days. Orders approved between 4pm Friday and 12pm Sunday will usually arrive on Monday or Tuesday.
Your delivery might not require a signature. If you're not going to be in you can update your delivery preferences in the courier's app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place.
Same-day collection
Free
Order before 4pm Monday-Friday to collect in pharmacy the same day*. Collect from one of our LloydsPharmacy stores, including selected Sainsbury's.
*Please note this is subject to the availability of your treatment in your selected store.
Based in our London office, our doctors, independent pharmacists and nurses have years of experience in NHS hospitals, GP surgeries or community pharmacies. Any of our team is qualified to give you advice, a prescription, or aftercare, but some have a special interest in contraception or a related field.