Desogestrel

How the Desogestrel pill works and what it is:

Desogestrel is a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, which occurs naturally in the female body and assists with regulating the menstrual cycle and preparing the body for pregnancy. However, it can also be used as a form of contraception.

It works by thickening cervical mucus so that it becomes more difficult for sperm to penetrate it. It can also prevent ovaries from releasing an egg, meaning that even if sperm did get through the cervical mucus, there’d be nothing for them to fertilise.

Desogestrel and other mini pills are popular with people who aren’t able to tolerate oestrogen, for instance those who are:

• Smokers aged over 35
• Overweight
• Taking particular medicines
• Diagnosed with specific medical conditions for example, blood circulation problems or migraines with aura

If you’ve been told that you’re not able to take oestrogen, then the progestogen-only pill, Desogestrel may be a suitable option for you as it contains only a progestogen.

Mini pill:

Mini pills are types of hormonal contraception which only contain a form of progesterone, instead of being combined with oestrogen. They’re popular because they can be taken by most women and they are taken every day without breaks between packs, making it easier to get into a routine and not forget any pills.

When used correctly, most mini pills are around 99% effective but based on how most women usually take them, they’re around 92% effective. Due to this fact, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the information leaflet and try to stick to the instructions as much as possible to maximise the mini pill’s effectiveness. In addition, you can always use barrier methods such as condoms or diaphragms to make your choice of contraceptive method even more effective against pregnancy.

Although the name, ‘mini pill’ suggests that the tablet is smaller than combined pills, this often isn’t the case, and most progesterone-only tablets are the same size as their combined equivalents. The ‘mini’ simply refers to the fact that it contains only one type of hormone.

Benefits of Desogestrel:

Mini pills are types of hormonal contraception which only contain a form of progesterone, instead of being combined with oestrogen. They’re popular because they can be taken by most women and they are taken every day without breaks between packs, making it easier to get into a routine and not forget any pills.

When used correctly, most mini pills are around 99% effective but based on how most women usually take them, they’re around 92% effective. Due to this fact, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the information leaflet and try to stick to the instructions as much as possible to maximise the mini pill’s effectiveness. In addition, you can always use barrier methods such as condoms or diaphragms to make your choice of contraceptive method even more effective against pregnancy.

How to take Desogestrel:

Desogestrel and other mini pills are not like the combined contraceptive pill, in that you don’t take a 7-day break in between packs, you just take one tablet each day continuously.

If you start taking Desogestrel on days 1-5 of your cycle, you should be protected from pregnancy straight away, as this is the least fertile time. The first day of your cycle is the day that your period starts. If you begin taking the mini pill on any other day of your menstrual cycle, you should use additional contraception methods for 2 days until your medication can protect you on its own.

Take your mini pill at the same time each day. Many progesterone-only pills may not be as effective if they’re taken more than three hours late, but with Desogestrel, you have up to 12 hours to take a pill that you have forgotten. If it’s more than 12 hours since the tablet was due, take the forgotten one straight away and then carry on your pack as normal the next day. You will need to use other barrier methods such as condoms or abstain from sex for 2 days to make sure that you’re still protected.

You don’t need to take it with food, a glass of water will do but if you find that it helps you to get into a routine by taking your pill with a meal, it won’t do you any harm. Anything that helps you get into a routine such as setting alarms, you should do, as taking the pill at the same time each day maximises its effectiveness.

Side effects of Desogestrel:

Although Desogestrel is well tolerated by most women it’s still a hormonal medication, so it can cause side effects. Side effects caused by Desogestrel are often mild or bearable, but you should still be aware of them in case any of the symptoms become troublesome and you need to change your contraception.

Some of the side effects are:

• Mood changes
• Decreased libido
• Depressed mood
• Headache
• Nausea
• Acne
• Breast pain
• Irregular periods
• Lack of periods
• Weight gain
• Infection of the vagina
• Vomiting
• Hair loss
• Difficulty with contact lenses
• Painful periods
• Ovarian cysts
• Tiredness
• Breast secretion
• Hives
• Erythema nodosum

If you find that you experience any of these side effects, you should speak to your GP, who may suggest trying out a different form of contraception.

As well as the side effects listed, it’s important to know that with most forms of hormonal contraception, your risk of breast cancer is increased slightly. Because of this, it’s particularly important to regularly check your breasts for lumps, and report any changes to your doctor. The best practice is to check them at about the same time each month so that hormonal fluctuations are minimised.

Hormonal contraceptive pills can also increase your risk of something called thrombosis. Thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein. It’s important to make yourself aware of the symptoms of various types of thrombosis so that you can spot one early if it happens to you. If it does, seek urgent medical help.

Mood changes and depressed mood are also side effects, so it’s important to take care of your mental well-being. If you notice any change in your mood, report it to your doctor who may wish to monitor you. Depression and low mood can sometimes lead to thoughts of suicide, so it’s important to speak to a healthcare professional you trust as soon as you notice that your moods have changed. If your mental health is affected as a result of Desogestrel, your doctor may recommend a different method of contraception.

Can Desogestrel stop my periods?

Because Desogestrel can change the hormone levels in your body it can also interfere with your menstrual cycle. Some people who take Desogestrel mini, experience abnormal periods, such as bleeding that wouldn’t fit their natural cycle, while some women experience amenorrhoea, an absence of periods, whilst taking Desogestrel. There’s no way of knowing how the pill is going to affect you until you start taking it and some women find that their cycle regulates again after around 12 weeks. However, if you find your cycle is abnormal for you and it worries you, you should speak to your doctor about alternative methods or for guidance on whether or not it’s normal whilst taking the mini pill.

Because Desogestrel can affect menstrual cycles in different ways, it is not a guarantee that it will stop your periods, so you shouldn’t take the pill for this reason. If you’d like to delay your period, there are other options available such as norethisterone, but you should speak to your GP first.

Precautions when taking Desogestrel:

Although the medicine is usually safe for people who can’t take oestrogen, it might not be safe for people with certain health conditions or those who are taking medicines that are known to interact with it.

You should not take Desogestrel if you have any of the following health problems, and talk to your doctor about any options that might be available for you:

• Known allergy to Desogestrel
• Jaundice
• Thrombosis, presently or in the past
• History of cancer that is sensitive to hormones
• Unexplained bleeding
• History of breast or liver cancer
• Epilepsy
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Tuberculosis
• Chloasma

Taking this medication with any of the above health conditions can be dangerous, and should be avoided unless your doctor has advised you otherwise. In addition, if you take any of the following drugs, you should also avoid Desogestrel until you’ve spoken to your doctor, as some of these treatments are known to interact with Desogestrel in potentially dangerous ways:

• Some epilepsy medications
• Primidone
• Phenytoin
• Carbamazepine
• Oxcarbazepine
• Felbamate
• Tuberculosis treatments
• Rifampicin
• Some HIV treatments
• Ritonavir
• Griseofulvin
• Medical charcoal
• St John’s Wort
• Ciclosporin

Desogestrel through the NHS:

All contraception is free on the NHS, this includes Desogestrel and mini pills. However, you might not always be guaranteed the same brand, so if you want a specific, branded version of Desogestrel, you may have to buy it privately online from reputable websites such as MedsRUs.

Where can I buy Desogestrel?

Buying the contraceptive pill online is fast, safe and simple with MedsRUs. All you need to do is complete our medical consultation questionnaire by answering a few short questions about the medication you’ve selected and yourself. This then gets sent over to one of our certified prescribers who will review it to check whether it’s safe for you based on your answers. If your order is approved, a digital prescription is generated and sent to our partner pharmacy and dispensed directly to your door.

The process is completely confidential and discreet, takes just minutes and you can order the medication you need without even having to leave your home. Get started now.