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Microgynon
Microgynon 30 is a combined pill containing levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, taken once a day for 21 days followed by a 7-day break. It is over 99% effective when taken correctly.
Free online assessment with a UK prescriber
Microgynon 30 is a combined contraceptive pill. Each pill contains two hormones, ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen) and levonorgestrel (a progestogen), which stop you releasing an egg each month. Taken correctly, it's over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. At MedsRus, a UK prescriber reviews a confidential online consultation, including your blood pressure and BMI, before supplying it, and we send it in plain packaging.
Microgynon at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Type | Combined pill (oestrogen + progestogen) |
| Hormones | Ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and levonorgestrel 150 micrograms |
| How to take it | One pill a day for 21 days, then a 7-day break |
| How effective | Over 99% if taken correctly; around 91% with typical use |
| Protects against STIs? | No; use condoms for STI protection |
| Supply | Prescription-only, after an online consultation |
How does Microgynon work?
The two hormones work together to:
- stop ovulation, so no egg is released;
- thicken the mucus at the neck of the womb, so sperm can't get through easily;
- thin the womb lining, so a fertilised egg is less likely to implant.
How to take Microgynon
- Take one pill at about the same time every day for 21 days.
- Then stop for 7 days. You'll usually have a bleed during this break.
- Start your next pack on day 8, even if you're still bleeding.
Some people take packs back-to-back with shorter or no breaks, to have fewer bleeds. This is safe with Microgynon, but ask the prescriber first, as there's a right way to do it.
When does Microgynon start working?
- Start on the first day of your period (or up to day 5): you're protected straight away.
- Start on any other day: use condoms or avoid sex for the first 7 days.
What if I miss a pill?
- Missed 1 pill (more than 24 hours late): take it as soon as you remember, even if it means taking two in one day. Carry on as normal. You're still protected.
- Missed 2 or more pills: take the most recent missed pill as soon as possible and carry on with the rest. Use condoms for the next 7 days.
- If this happened in the first week of a pack and you had sex in the 7-day break or that week, you may need emergency contraception.
- If there are fewer than 7 pills left in the pack, finish them and start a new pack without a break.
If you're sick within 3 hours of taking a pill, take another one straight away and then carry on at the usual time. If you keep being sick, or have severe diarrhoea, for more than 24 hours, follow the missed pill advice above.
Side effects
These often settle within the first 3 months:
- spotting or bleeding between periods;
- feeling sick, headaches, breast tenderness;
- mood changes.
Possible benefits: lighter, less painful and more regular bleeds, and a lower risk of womb and ovarian cancer.
Rare but serious: the combined pill slightly increases the risk of blood clots. Pills containing levonorgestrel, like Microgynon, are among those with the lowest risk: about 5 to 7 in every 10,000 women a year, compared with about 2 in 10,000 women not using hormonal contraception and 9 to 12 for pills containing desogestrel or gestodene. Get urgent help if you have pain or swelling in one leg, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing up blood, or a sudden severe headache or changes in your vision.
Who shouldn't take Microgynon?
The combined pill isn't suitable if you:
- have migraines with aura;
- smoke and are 35 or over;
- have had a blood clot, or have a close family history of clots;
- have a BMI of 35 or more;
- have high blood pressure, or certain heart, liver or breast conditions;
- had a baby in the last 3 weeks, or in the last 6 weeks if you have other risk factors for blood clots;
- had a baby in the last 6 weeks and are breastfeeding.
If the combined pill isn't right for you, a progestogen-only pill such as desogestrel may be.
How MedsRus prescribes Microgynon
- Complete a confidential online consultation, including a recent blood pressure reading and your height and weight.
- A UK prescriber reviews it and approves Microgynon if it's suitable, or suggests an alternative.
- Your pill is dispensed by our UK pharmacy and sent in plain packaging.
Microgynon FAQs
How effective is Microgynon?
Over 99% if you take it correctly every day. With typical use, when pills are sometimes missed, it's around 91%.
Do I need to use condoms in the 7-day break?
No. You're still protected during the break, as long as you took all 21 pills correctly and start the next pack on time.
Can I skip my period with Microgynon?
Yes. You can take packs back-to-back without a break. Some spotting is common at first. Ask the prescriber how to do it.
Will Microgynon make me gain weight?
Research hasn't shown that the combined pill causes weight gain, although some people notice changes in appetite or fluid.
What should I do if I miss a pill?
For one missed pill, take it as soon as you remember and carry on. For two or more, use condoms for 7 days and check whether you need emergency contraception.
Does Microgynon protect against STIs?
No. Use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Is Rigevidon the same as Microgynon?
Rigevidon and Levest contain the same two hormones at the same doses as Microgynon 30, so they work in the same way. Microgynon 30 ED is slightly different: it includes 7 inactive pills, so you take a pill every day with no break.
Should I take Microgynon or Mercilon?
Both are combined pills. Microgynon contains levonorgestrel, while Mercilon contains desogestrel and a lower dose of oestrogen. Pills with levonorgestrel have a lower risk of blood clots, which is why they're usually tried first. Some people move to a different pill if they get side effects. The prescriber will help you choose.
Further reading
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