It is produced and marketed by Bayer Laboratories. This pill is particularly popular because it offers immediate contraception and its effectiveness rate exceeds 99%.
What is Microgynon?
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The dosage of this pill is 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel (progestin) and 0.03 mg of Ethinyl estradiol ( an , estrogenic hormone): the nature of its progestin hormone, levonorgestrel, hence classes the pill among the second generation of pills.
It is thus one of the first pills to be prescribed by doctors and is particularly suitable for women taking an oral combined hormonal contraception for the first time.
Microgynon 30 is a combined oral contraceptive pill combining oestrogen and a progestin hormone to prevent pregnancy.
All of the pills in the packet are identical. There are 21 in total and each contains the same effects and the same hormone content, therefore making it monophasic. Moreover, given its low hormone dosage, it is known as a metered mini pill. Finally, it is an oestrogen-progestogen contraceptive pill with a progestin climate, due to its content of levonorgestrel.
How does it work?
The purpose of this pill is to prevent its user from getting pregnant. To do this, it alters ovulation by inhibiting the pituitary-ovarian axis: Microgynon 30 blocks the reproductive system from sending and receiving messages, and therefore makes it inactive.
In addition, Microgynon changes the endometrium by making the uterine lining unsuitable for egg implantation. It also makes the cervical mucus form an impenetrable barrier to prevent the progression of sperm towards the egg.
To be precise: ovulation does not occur, and there is no menstruation per se, but you will experience withdrawal bleeding instead.
How effective is Microgynon?
This pill has a high Pearl Index of 0.1 when used perfectly, and 0.15 in normal use. The gap between these two scores is low compared to other combined pills. This index measures the number of pregnancies in the first year of using the pill, whilst the smaller rate of efficiency mainly happens because of human oversight, which significantly impacts one’s protection. We can say that is one of the most effective pills on the market today.
The benefits of Microgynon 30
Microgynon is mostly made up of progestogen because it contains more of this hormone than oestrogen. Therefore, it is particularly effective to women who usually suffer from dysmenorrhea (painful, high-volume menstruation that lasts a long time), or menorrhagia accompanied by hypermenorrhoea.
Against withdrawal bleeding
Indeed, this oral contraception helps make withdrawal bleeding shorter, lighter and less painful. So Microgynon is perfectly suited to women who suffer from menorrhagia and hypermenorrhoea, with a risk of anaemia and also reduces the risk of contracting problems.
Against endometriosis
In addition, it helps reduce endometriosis by reducing both the clinical signs and its development. Endometriosis refers to the process by which the endometrial cells abnormally lodge in the tubes and thus reshape them, causing pain, injury and / or ovarian cysts.
The symptoms are severe pelvic pain, sometimes even during sex, dyspareunia, intense pain that does not go away with paracetamol use, which prevents the woman from continuing with her activities. The use of Microgynon as a birth control pill helps to reduce pain. It prevents endometrial tissue from migrating to the fallopian tubes and stops the withdrawal blood flow from going the wrong way through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity (instead of being expelled outwards).
Against endometrial cancer
Finally, this pill helps prevent endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine body, not to be confused with cervical cancer) and ovarian cancer, especially because progesterone is used to protect the walls of the uterus by preventing abnormal cells from multiplying. It, therefore, reduces the risk of contracting these types of hormone-dependent cancers.
This is especially the case for progestogen-climate combined-pills that contain more progestin than oestrogen, like Microgynon 30.
Dosage of Microgynon
Microgynon is a second generation pill that your doctor may prescribe as a first attempt.
How do I take my pill?
It is very simple to use, as the packet has a calendared layout that follows a pattern of 21 days on / 7 days off. This means that you should take your pill at a fixed time for 21 consecutive days.
At the end of the 21 days, you should take a 7-day break, during which you should not take a pill. This is when withdrawal bleeding will occur. After the 7-day break, you should start another pack.
If you have followed the pill cycle regularly then you should be starting the new packet on the same day every month.
That said, it is possible that you get withdrawal bleeding during the 2nd or 3rd day of your pill-break, and it may continue beyond the 7-day break, i.e. after you start a new pack. This should in no way prevent you from starting a new pack as expected, after 7 days maximum.
Finally, we advise you to follow the calendared path of the packet, even though the pill is monophasic and all the tablets are the same. This allows you to see what you have taken already and quickly notice if you have forgotten a pill.
When you first use Microgynon, be sure to take the first pill in the pack on the first day of menstruation. You do have the option to take it up to 5 days after this date, but this requires you to also use a non-hormonal contraceptive device for 7 days to ensure that you are protected, e.g. a condom.
What if I want to change to Microgynon from my current pill or birth control?
You can swap your current pill to Microgynon (a combined pill) if your current pill is a progestogen-only pill (POP).
If you decide to do so, you can swap at any time in the cycle by simply taking the Microgynon pill at the same time as you would have taken your old one.
However, you must also use a non-hormonal contraceptive method such as a condom, for 7 days, which is the time that it takes for it to be fully effective as a contraceptive.
Similarly, if you are taking a progestogen-hormonal contraception method, like an intrauterine device, an injection, or an implant; simply replace it with Microgynon on the day when the device needs to be changed or replaced.
For example, for the injection, take your first Microgynon pill on the day you have scheduled for a new injection. For the implant and the IUD, take the pill on the day the device is removed. You must also protect yourself against pregnancy using a non-hormonal contraception for 7 days.
If you want to stay on a combined hormonal contraceptive, but you want to replace your current device (whether it is a different pill, a vaginal ring or a transdermal patch), you can do so at different times, depending on the case:
- Between the day of the ring or patch’s removal and the scheduled day of replacement (i.e. after 7 days’ break).
- If you are swapping from another combined pill, you should not take the usual 7-day break between packs. Start Microgynon the day after the last pill from your old packet, i.e. run the two packs together without a break. In the case that your pill contained placebos, you must take your first Microgynon pill instead of the first placebo.
If you replace your contraception during these 7 days, or on the first day of your normal withdrawal period, you do not need to use an additional non-hormonal contraceptive device.
What to do in the case of an abortion?
Finally, after an abortion, you can start the pill again immediately if the abortion took place during the 1st trimester.
Regarding abortions or miscarriages that occur beyond the first trimester, or just after childbirth, you should generally only resume an oral contraceptive method such as Microgynon 30 after a period of 21 days, and it must correspond with the arrival of your next period.
It is, therefore, advisable to wait for your next period to occur before restarting the hormonal contraception. Meanwhile, it is necessary to also use a non-hormonal contraceptive method, such as a condom, for 7 days after you start taking the pill.
Is it possible to control taking this pill?
You can adjust the dosage of your birth control pill to have your period later, or to just make sure the date of your withdrawal bleeding occurs early the following month. These alterations should not mean that you take a break for longer than the 7-day period. As a reminder: you should never stop taking the pill for more than 7 days.
Delaying your withdrawal bleeding means you skip a cycle by running two packs of Microgynon together. You hence take the contraceptive pills for 42 consecutive days without observing the 7-day interruption.
To move the date of the onset of menstruation, you must observe a shorter break than 7 days, equivalent to the number of days in advance you want to move your period. For example, if you want to bring the first day of your period four days earlier than usual, you have to take the next pack of Microgynon 30, 4 days earlier.
Again, you should never observe a longer break than 7 days, or you are exposed to the risk of getting pregnant.
By adjusting your dosage to delay or advance your cycle, you might not see the appearance of a period, but instead, you could experience spotting or breakthrough bleeding. This will restore to normal on the next 7-day break.
Forgetfulness: What if I forget to take my Microgynon pill?
When used normally (i.e. without forgetting a pill) Microgynon protects you against the risk of pregnancy, even during the 7-day break. This means you can have sex all month without the risk of getting pregnant.
However, sometimes people forget, especially those who struggle to keep taking the pill at a fixed time every day. Ensure that you are extra vigilant during periods when you are especially at risk of pregnancy.
The end and beginning of a packet (either side of the 7-day break) are riskier periods in terms of the probability of getting pregnant, because if you forget your pill after 7 days, you’re likely to get pregnant due to the long period without contraception.
You are of course protected for 7 days, but from the eighth day, this is no longer the case. When you are at the beginning of the pack, just after observing the 7-day break, is also risky, in case you forget to restart the new contraceptive packet on the 8th day. This is statistically the most common time to forget.
Beyond these precautions, you should create a schedule, especially if you know yourself to be especially forgetful, if you have a nomadic lifestyle, or if your arrangements are often unpredictable, forcing you to stay away from home. In these cases, you can develop techniques such as taking your pills with you and setting an automatic reminder. Similarly, certain times of day are more conducive than others, depending on the woman: sunset or sunrise, meals, etc.
It is indeed very important to take the pill at a fixed time and to not forget. The combined pill’s contraceptive effectiveness depends on this.
- Should you forget a pill of Microgynon less than 12 hours after the fixed time, you can immediately take the missed pill, and contraceptive efficacy is maintained.
- However, if you remember after more than 12 hours after the regularly scheduled time, the contraceptive effect cannot be guaranteed and other precautions are necessary.
If you forget during the first week of a pack, you have to take your pill immediately and take the next one at the regularly scheduled time, even if 2 tablets are taken simultaneously or at very short intervals.
You must also use an additional contraceptive method (such as condoms) for 7 days, to ensure optimal protection. If intercourse took place the week before forgetting, we recommend a pregnancy test as there is a high risk of becoming pregnant during this time in particular.
If you forget your pill in the second week of the cycle, you must take the pill as soon as you remember, then take the next one at its normal fixed time, and follow the pack as usual. It is not necessary to use an additional contraceptive.
If you forget during the 3rd week, you have two options if you haven’t previously forgotten a pill:
- You can choose to skip the break. You must take the forgotten pill, then the next one at the usually fixed time, even if there are only short intervals between the two. Then you need to continue the contraceptive packet normally, and when you reach the end of the packet, you should simply chain on the following packet without observing the usual interruption period of 7 days. Withdrawal bleeding does not appear, however spotting may occur.
- Or you can choose to have the break immediately instead. So, do not take the forgotten pill, and discard the packet. The seven-day break begins immediately.
If you forget to take your pill several times during the cycle: you must choose option number 2. More generally, if you forget repeatedly during the pill cycle, there is a strong likelihood of getting pregnant, especially if you have had sex within 7 days before or after the forgotten pill. In other words, whatever the time in the cycle, just one forgotten pill a week will significantly reduce the protection provided by the pill.
These safety rules are also applicable in cases of acute diarrhoea or vomiting, which occur within 3 hours after taking your pill at the usual time. You have less than 12 hours to re-take the contraceptive pill that could have been evacuated in order to remain protected. If you do not have the option to take it, then you must follow the rules conferring to missing a pill for more than 12 hours.
Are there any side effects when taking Microgynon?
The occurrence of side effects depends on the person. In addition, many disappear after the body adapts to new doses of hormones.
It is thus estimated that if these effects are still occurring after the first three months after taking the pill, or after three pill cycles, the pill may not be right for you and you may be prescribed a different one.
In the first few months taking the pill, some women might experience:
- irregular bleeding or spotting that occurs outside of the break
- amenorrhea (meaning a total absence of a period), under perfect conditions of use (i.e. no omissions)
In either case, this is proof of a body adjustment phase. There is no need to worry.
The other most common side effects of Microgynon
| nausea | abdominal pain |
| headaches | Tension and breast pain have also been reported |
| Mood swings | Women who have had or a have a history of hormone-dependent cancers (related to breasts and genitals) |
Some women have noted the appearance of acne and weight gain (due to an increased appetite), because of Microdyne’s progesterone climate, although this observation is infrequent. These same women are more likely to experience a loss of libido among the pill’s side effects, but these complaints are of a rare frequency.
Women with lactose and sucrose intolerances, or who follow a special diet to avoid these substances, must monitor their usage or not use this hormonal contraceptive pill at all because it contains a high content of this excipient.
What are the precautions for Microgynon?
Combined oestrogen-progesterone oral contraceptive pills all carry a slightly increased risk of venous thrombosis, compared with women who do not use combined hormonal contraception.
However, this risk is very low and extremely rare. It is highest during the first year of use of a contraceptive pill, or after an interruption of more than 4 weeks, and then decreases considerably.
The women involved in this risk are those who have:
- family history
- predispositions or aggravations
- already developed risky diseases
They should, therefore, inform their doctor when they conduct their medical tests (e.g. taking blood pressure) and fill out the questionnaire. Note that this procedure is required to determine whether or not you are eligible to use Microgynon 30.
People who must not take the Microgynon oral contraceptive pill are those with the following diseases, which have arisen due to hereditary history, with a proven occurrence or risk factors:
- If you have had a blood clot. Depending on the location of the clot, it refers to the development of deep vein thrombosis (phlebitis) and/or arterial venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism).
- By extension, people who have had a myocardial infarction or stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases (as well as its symptoms and prodromal symptoms such as angina pectoris) are at risk and should not take Microgynon.
- Similarly, people with clotting abnormalities should not take Microgynon, such as people with Protein C and S deficiency, antithrombin deficiency, and who show the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, among others.
- Finally, some diseases expose you more to the development of an arterial blood clot and thrombosis, such as
- Diabetes with vascular lesions,
- If you are prone to high blood pressure or have abnormally high lipid levels such as cholesterol or triglycerides.
- More generally, you display all hyperhomocysteinemia, that qualifies the presence of strong levels of fat, that can clog arteries.
Some contexts may put you at risk, especially if you have to lie down for a particularly long period after an operation, or if you just finished breastfeeding. In the first situation, the extended positon makes blood coagulation complicated, while in the second situation, women who are pregnant or nursing are 10 times more at risk of developing blood clots.
In addition, certain situations make you more likely to develop a blood clot, especially with age, or if you are a smoker if you are overweight or obese. The three combined, in combination with other risks, then lead to a highly increased risk … all of these elements must call for extreme vigilance on your part.
Apart from the risk of thrombosis, other pathologies are also contraindicated when taking Microgynon. Please be vigilant and prudent in cases where you have either developed or have the risk of developing these diseases:
- If you are prone to migraines with focal neurological signs, that is to say, preceded by signs such blurred vision (seeing butterflies or black spots), language problems or dizziness, you should not take Microgynon as a hormonal contraceptive method.
- If you have had or have hormone-related cancer (of the breast or genital organs) or uterine cancer, you cannot take this pill. The same goes for undiagnosed abnormalities, in particular when associated with an unexplained vaginal discharge of blood.
- Similarly, people with or who have had a dangerous liver problem (such as a tumour, jaundice or other serious diseases) should not take Microgynon.
If you see the clinical signs of a thrombosis risk, please stop taking the pill and seek medical attention immediately. It can also be useful to recognise the symptoms in order to act very quickly.
For example, if you notice a swelling in a leg, possibly with pain, but not necessarily, a change in skin colour changes, feeling hot.
Respiratory symptoms and chest symptoms are also a sign of pulmonary embolisms, such as shortness of breath, a sudden cough, pain in the left arm, repetitive migraines and motor loss, or language confusions…
Finally, some medications are not recommended, in the sense that their interactions can affect the impact and effectiveness of the contraceptive, or of other treatments.
These belong to a group of drugs for treating epilepsy, such as:
| certain barbiturates | anti-fungal treatment (with griseofulvin) |
| anticonvulsants based on primidone or phenytoin etc. | lamotrigine |
| some painkillers | Anti-bacterial (especially based on clarithromycin, erythromycin) |
| antiretroviral (HIV infection and hepatitis C) |
People treated for heart conditions should also check that the active ingredients of their drug do not interact with the Microgynon pill. Finally, other substances without consequences a priori, like a grapefruit juice or St John’s wort, used in herbal remedies, can interact with the active ingredients of Microgynon. But rest assured, all these cases are extremely rare!
How to buy Microgynon 30 online & in UK?
Microgynon can cause various side effects in its users, so it is mandatory to have a medical examination beforehand. The pill is available only on prescription.
Buy Microgynon 30 in a UK pharmacy
The gynaecologist or doctor are the only professionals able to prescribe Microgynon, allowing you to buy it in a pharmacy. The medical consultation aims to check your health condition and prescribe the most suitable pill for your body. Each pill is different and can give you different side effects. Various medical examinations, such as a blood test, are recommended to help the practitioner prescribe the best pill.
Buy Microgynon 30 online
The other possibility is to buy the pill online. Depending on the European country in which you reside, it may be possible to buy Microgynon on the Internet. Some clinics allow their patients to conduct an online medical examination, which is then checked and approved by a doctor. Remember that you can only buy Microgynon online in the case of a prescription renewal. If you have never taken the pill before, you will have to go through the conventional route, i.e. a medical consultation with the gynaecologist.
It is precisely for this reason that the online questionnaire must be completed with the utmost honesty. You must answer the various medical questions as sincerely as possible, because if the doctor decides not to prescribe the pill, it is because he considers it to be detrimental to your health.
What is the price of Microgynon 30 Online & in UK?
Bayer Microgynon is a contraceptive pill available only with a prescription. The price of drugs of this category is determined at will by pharmacies. Prices may vary depending on the place, city, neighbourhood, or wherever you want to purchase the drug. Be aware that the pill is not reimbursed by social security.
Microgynon price: Buy in a UK pharmacy
In UK, The price in a pharmacy for one cycle of Microgynon, i.e. one month of treatment, varies from £18 to £20 on average. You must then add the price of your medical consultation to this cost.
Microgynon price: Buy online
Prices for Microgynon on the Internet are relatively competitive. Depending on the online pharmacy, the price for one month of treatment is only slightly higher than in a physical pharmacy, namely between £23 and £26. When you get a prescription, you get an average of 3 months of treatment (total cost £70-80). The cost of the prescription and delivery are usually included.
Caution: Alfadoc always recommends that you go through your gynaecologist and conduct a comprehensive health review before purchasing the pill or any other prescription drug. We also urge you to be wary of websites offering you drugs with promotions such as “cheap” or “microginon without prescription”. These websites often sell counterfeits that can be dangerous to your health.
Sources
- Microgynon 30 (ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel): Netdoctor
- Combined pill: NHS
- Forgetting to take the Contraceptive Pill: Healthcenter
Other information
Medical review on January 18, 2021 by Dr. Davis Taylor
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