Combined contraceptive pills, like Yasmin, Rigevidon, Lucette and Microgynon, contain two hormones: progestogen and oestrogen. They stop 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 

With most combined pills (but not all), you take one pill every day for 21 days. Then you have a pill-free break of 4 or 7 days. During your pill-free week, you should have a withdrawal bleed or 'period'. If you have heavy or painful bleeding or get 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

Find out more about taking the combined pill. 

Possible side effects

Side effects vary. Your blood pressure may go up. That's why you need a blood pressure check, at home or in a pharmacy, before you can take this type of pill. 

After that you’ll need a blood pressure check at least once a year. There’s also a slightly increased risk of blood clots. 

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

With most low-dose combined pills, you take one pill every day for 21 days. Then you have a pill-free break of 4 or 7 days. During your pill-free days, you should have a withdrawal bleed or 'period'.  If you have heavy or painful bleeding, or get 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-day break

• Everyday continuously, without a break   

Find out more about taking the combined pill. 

Possible side effects

Side effects vary. With a low-dose pill you’re more likely to experience irregular bleeding. Your blood pressure may go up. That's why you need a blood pressure check, at home or in a pharmacy, before you can take this type of pill.  After that you’ll need a blood pressure check at least once a year. 

Mini pills, like Cerazette and Cerelle (or the generic version Desogestrel), only contain the hormone progestogen. This can be a good option if you: 

• can’t take the combined pill
• are overweight
• have had blood clots 
• have high blood pressure 

How you take it

You take one pill a day. It’s very important to take it at the same time, every day. Unlike with combined pills, there’s no pill-free break. 

Possible side effects

The most likely side effect is irregular bleeding. 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. 

Like the combined pill, both the patch and the ring contain the hormones progestogen and oestrogen. They are just delivered into your body differently.

How you use them

You wear the contraceptive patch (Evra) on your skin, anywhere clean and dry. It’s about 5cm square. 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 a patch or ring for 21 days, then take a break for 4 or 7 days. You should have a withdrawal bleed or ‘period’ during this week. 

But you can also use them:

• For 9 weeks followed by a 4 -or 7-day break
• Continuously, with no break 

How reliable are they?

Used properly, the patch and ring are 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 people don’t get any side effects. But headaches, skin irritation, nausea and tender breasts are the most common ones. There’s also a slightly higher risk of​​​​​​​ blood clots. 

Sayana Press is the contraceptive injection we have available through our service. It’s a long-term contraceptive that contains a hormone similar to progesterone.

How you use them

Sayana Press is injected every 12-13 weeks to prevent pregnancy. You’ll inject the contraception at home into your stomach or thigh. A healthcare provider will show you how to inject the medicine. We can only prescribe Sayana Press if you have used it before or been shown how to use it.

How reliable is it?

Contraceptive injections are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, when used correctly.

Possible side effects 

Not everyone will experience side effects. However, if you do these can include acne, nausea, irregular periods and mood changes.

How does the pill work?
The synthetic oestrogen and progestogen in the combined pill do the following to prevent pregnancy:

Oestrogen

• Prevents ovulation by reducing production of two hormones involved in your menstrual cycle.

Progestogen

• Makes the lining of the uterus thinner. This makes it harder for the egg to implant.
• Increases the thickness of the mucus at the entrance of the womb. This stops sperm from getting through to fertilise an egg.

The mini pill works similarly, but only contains progestogen.

When does the pill start working?
The pill can be taken at any point during your menstrual cycle (as long as you’re not pregnant already).

If you take the combined pill up to and on your fifth day of your period you’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away. If it’s any other point of your cycle it will take 7 days to take effect. Additional protection will be required to prevent pregnancy (such as condoms). 

If you use the mini pill on the first day of your period you will also be protected immediately. If it’s more than five days after your period has started, you will have to wait 2 days for it to work and use additional protection to prevent pregnancy such as condoms.

“While there are a lot of different options for contraception, there will be one that works for you. Talk to your GP to determine the right treatment.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

According to NHS statistics the contraceptive pill is 99% effective. However, it should be noted that this is only when treatment is followed correctly (i.e. pill is taken consistently without breaks). If used incorrectly, the effectiveness drops to 91%.

If you're taking contraception like the pill, patch or ring, they don't stop you catching STIs. You will still need to use condoms to protect yourself.

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.

Doctors recommend that everyone gets tested every six months, or every time you have a new sexual partner.

“Some STIs have no symptoms so without getting tested you may not even realise you have one. Therefore it is important to consider getting tested regularly for STIs.”​​​​​​​ - Dr Bhavini Shah

The combined pill has been shown in studies to help with various other conditions. These benefits include:

• Usually making bleeds regular, lighter and less painful
• Reduction in premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms
• Can reduce acne
• Can reduce symptoms of PMS
• Reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer
• May protect against acute pelvic inflammatory disease
• May reduce the risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease

“If you’re dealing with or are concerned about one of these symptoms, talk to your GP. They will suggest a treatment that may involve a contraceptive pill. Do not take the pill without consulting your GP first.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

You might forget to take your pill. Your patch might come off, or your ring may be dislodged. What to do next depends on the contraceptive you’re using.

Check the contraceptive 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 need emergency contraception, we can help with our morning-after pill service.  

As with any medical treatment, use of contraception can lead to side effects. To help compare the types of treatment we’ve listed their common (and not-so-common) side effects below:

If you are suffering from side effects from your contraceptive treatment, talk to your GP.

There are a lot of questions about how the contraceptive pill affects menstruation and if it can be used to stop your period. We’ve compiled the five most common questions (and their answers) below:

Does the pill stop your period?
Taking the pill can cause periods to become lighter, less painful and even stop bleeding entirely. However, this result will be different depending on the patient and what pill they take. There is no guarantee that your birth control will stop your period.

How does the pill affect my period?
Hormonal contraception can have an impact on your periods, including changes in the length and regularity of periods (your periods can become shorter and more regular). However, some types of hormonal contraception progestogen-only pill can cause irregular bleeding or spotting.

Can I use the pill to delay my period?
If you’re taking the combined contraceptive pill, you should be able to delay your period for three weeks by taking two packets back-to-back. This delays your womb lining shedding.

You can take another packet to delay your period further. However, this will cause the lining of your womb to build up (which increases the chance of breakthrough bleeding and feeling bloated). It is not recommended that you take more than three packet back-to-back.

If you’re looking for other methods to delay your period, you could try period delay tablets. However, these are not suitable for patients on combined hormonal contraception.

How many days after stopping the pill does your period start?
A lot of women will have a period 2-4 weeks after coming off of the pill due to the drop in hormone levels. This is called a withdrawal bleed. Your regular period should come back in the next month (although it may be heavier and last for longer than usual).

Why am I spotting on the pill?
Spotting is a common side effect of starting or using birth control. This can be due to your body adjusting to the new balance of hormones or changes to the lining of your uterus. This usually settles in the first 3 months. If this bleeding continues or gets heavier, please speak to your GP.

While some antibiotics are fine to take while you’re on the pill, the NHS have warned that some, such as rifampicin and rifabutin, can reduce the effectiveness of the combined pill. Talk to your GP for advice if you’re taking those medications (and use additional contraception if you’re planning to have sex during treatment).

Why would I change my contraception?
You might change contraception because:

• You have had a reaction to the pill, i.e. acne, migraines or high blood pressure
• It's difficult to take a pill every day with your lifestyle
• You're experiencing side effects like weight gain or dizziness

What should I think about when changing contraception?

• Potential side effects of your new pill
  
• If you’re going to have a break between contraceptives – you may have to use condoms or not have sex if you do
• Do you want to move from pills to a new method like a vaginal ring or the coil?

Who do I talk to about changing my contraception?

If you want to change your contraceptive pill, it’s always a good idea to talk about it with your GP or a sexual health nurse. If you have a new treatment in mind, you can start a contraception consultation with us. We can offer advice and make sure this new contraception will be the best fit for you.

“It’s always best to consult your GP before starting a new course of contraception. They can run through possible risks and side effects and may recommend a more suitable course of treatment.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

If you don’t want to use the pill, there are many other kinds of contraception available to use:

*When used perfectly

Most types of hormonal contraceptives can have side effects. These vary from person to person. If your contraceptive pill doesn’t suit you, try another. In the end, most women find a contraceptive that suits them.

One possible side effect of hormonal contraception is an increase in blood pressure. This can be dangerous.

Please call NHS 111 if you notice any of these side effects: 

• Blurred vision
• Nose bleeds
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath  

If you think it’s urgent, go to your nearest A&E.