Microgynon 30 Tablets

What is Microgynon?

Microgynon is a Combined Oral Contraceptive which containing Ethinylestradiol and Levonorgestrel. It is one of the most recommended contraceptives by GPs and a highly popular choice.

How it works?

Microgynon is taken daily with a 7-day pill free break every 21 days. It works by taking control of the hormonal cycles within the body causing changes in the womb which make it less favourable for the eggs to be fertilised by a sperm and for eggs to be implanted in the lining of the womb, preventing pregnancy.

How effective is Microgynon?

If taken correctly, Microgynon can prevent more than 99% of pregnancies.

Is Microgynon safe?

Microgynon is safe to use for most women. As with all combined hormonal contraceptives there are some risks and precautions that you should be aware of.

Combined hormonal contraceptives can increase blood pressure in some women. Blood pressure should be monitored at least once a year whilst taking contraceptives.

There is an increased risk of blood clots when taking combined hormonal contraception due to the presence of Oestrogen. This can cause a slight increase in your risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and increase risk of heart attacks or strokes. This risk increases with age but reduces over time once stopped.

There is evidence that combined hormonal contraceptives can cause a small increase in the risk of some breast cancer and cervical cancers, but reduces the risk of womb cancers, ovarian cancer and bowel cancer.

Whilst these risks are not a concern for most women, your prescriber will take these into account when prescribing Microgynon and may recommend an alternative if more appropriate.

Microgynon is taken daily for 21 days at the same time each day, followed by a 7-day pill free period.

Women will usually experience a bleed within the 7-day pill-free period which is normal.

It should be started within the first 5 days of your period. If started after this, extra precautions will be required for 7 days.
We usually advise using extra precautions for the first 7 days regardless of when started as some women with short or irregular cycles may not always be protected within the first 5 days. 

Following initiation, as long as doses are not missed, protection continues throughout, even during the 7-day pill-free period.

Before starting taking microgynon, it is necessary to have your blood pressure checked and to exclude any chances that you are pregnant. You should also have regular check-ups of your health, including regular cervical smear testing and checking your breasts regularly.

Rules for missed pills may apply and there are also alternate ways of taking microgynon in certain situations, such as if you miss a tablet or to delay your period. Please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet or speak to your prescriber for further information

You should not use Microgynon if

• If you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis), your lungs (pulmonary embolus) or other organs
• If you know you have a disorder affecting your blood clotting
• If you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time
• If you have ever had a heart attack or stroke, angina or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• If you have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides), a condition known as hyperhomocysteinaemia
• If you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called ‘migraine with aura’
• If you have or have ever had breast cancer
• If you have ever had a severe liver disease, and you have been told by your doctor that your liver function test results are not yet back to normal
• If you have ever had liver tumours
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Microgynon 30.
• If you have hepatitis C

Microgynon should not be taken if you are pregnant.

If you are breastfeeding, you should not start taking Microgynon until after 6 weeks of giving birth.

Like all medicines, Microgynon 30 can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. . If you get any side effect, particularly if severe and persistent, or have any change to your health that you think may be due to Microgynon 30, please talk to your doctor.

An increased risk of blood clots in the veins is present for all women using combined hormonal contraceptives.

Some of the common side-effects include

• Nausea or vomitting
• Stomach aches or stomach upsets
• Weight gain
• Headaches
• Depressive moods or mood swings
• Sore or painful breasts 
• Fluid retention
• Migraine
• Loss of interest in sex
• Breast enlargement
• Skin rash, which may be itchy

For further information side-effects, please refer to the patient information leaflet.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are on any of the of the following groups of medicines before taking Micrognynon.

• Some medicines used to treat epilepsy
• Some medicines used to treat HIV and Hepatitis C Virus infections (so-called protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors)
• Griseofulvin (an anti-fungal medicine)
• Certain antibiotics
• Certain sedatives (called barbiturates)
• St. John’s Wort (a herbal remedy).

Each beige sugar-coated tablet contains: 150 micrograms of the progestogen levonorgestrel, and 30 micrograms of the oestrogen ethinylestradiol.

Microgynon 30 also contains the inactive ingredients: Lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate (E170), talc, glycol montanate, titanium dioxide (E171), glycerin (E422), ferric oxide pigment yellow (E172).

Some of the alternatives to combined oral contraceptives include -

• Progesterone only pills
• Implants and Injections
• Intrauterine systems (IUS) or intrauterine devices (IUD)
• Patches
• Condoms and diaphragms
• Natural family planning