Do not use this product if you are at risk of or have any history of blood clots.
This product does not provide any protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Ethinylestradiol 30μg
Gestodene 75μg
Oral Contraception
Femodene comes in strips of 21 tablets, and should be taken once a day, until all 21 are finished. Each tablet should be taken according to the day of the week marked on the blister, and at the same time every day as well.
After completing the round of 21 tablets, there will be seven pill-free days. For example, if you take the last pill of one pack on a Friday, you will take the first pill of your next pack on the Saturday of the following week.
You should have a withdrawal bleed within a few days of taking the last pill from the strip. This is normal, and you can start your next strip and do not have to take any extra contraception during the pill-free days.
You should take your first Femodene pill on the first day of your next period.
You should start Femodene after the end of the previous strip. You will have full contraceptive protection and will not bleed until after your first strip of Femodene.
You should start Microgynon after your last active pill. You will have full contraceptive protection and will not bleed until after your first strip of Femodene.
Start taking Femodene on the first day of bleeding, even if you've already taken a progestogen-only pill that day.
You have (or ever had) a blood clot in your legs (deep vein thrombosis), your lungs (pulmonary embolus) or other organs.
You have a blood clotting disorder.
If you have an upcoming operation or will be sedentary for a long period.
Have ever had a heart attack or stroke
Have (or have ever had), angina pectoris, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Have a condition which may increase your risk of clotting in the arteries - such as severe diabetes, very high blood pressure, high level of fat in the blood or hyperhomocysteinaemia.
Suffer from ‘migraine with aura’
Have (or have ever had) breast cancer
You have or have ever had a liver disease, and liver function tests have not returned to normal levels.
You have hepatitis C and are taking any of the following medications - ombitasvir / paritaprevir / ritonavir and dasabuvir or glecaprevir /pibrentasvir
Nausea/Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Headache
Depressive mood or mood swings
Breast pain
Lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate (E572), sodium calcium edetate, sucrose, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate (E170), talc, montan glycol wax.
Some contraceptives can cause your blood pressure to rise. So you will have to have your blood pressure checked by your GP at least yearly.
If you have a high BMI, some combined oral contraceptives may not be suitable. You should also get your weight checked every year if you are on Femodene.
You will need to ensure you are not already pregnant, and this may have to be excluded with a pregnancy test.
If you are currently breast feeding, you may be advised not to use Femodene and use alternative contraception.
While you’re on the pill – you should go for regular cervical smear tests and you should also check your breasts or nipples on a monthly basis for any changes such as lumps or dimpling of the skin.
Microgynon may also affect the results of any blood tests, so you should inform your GP that you are taking this medication.
If you’re new to taking contraceptives or new to using Femodene, you may be better suited to taking no more than a 3-month supply, so you can see if it suits you and whether you experience any side effects.
A 6 months supply is more suitable if you’re already using Femodene or have used it in the past.
You can also go to your GP for contraceptives.
If you need to change your contraceptive please contact us and our practitioners will be happy to advise you further.
Femodene is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. If not taken correctly, statistics show around 9% of women will get pregnant.
If you are a smoker and over 35 years of age, you may be advised not to use Femodene, and use another form of contraceptive such as an intrauterine device (IUD), contraceptive implant or others alternatives.
Your contraceptive protection should not be affected if you take the late pill immediately, and keep taking your pills at the usual time. That may mean taking 2 pills in one day.
You may have lowered your contraceptive protection, so you should use extra protection.
You have to take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 pills in the same day. Continue taking the pill at your usual time each day. You should also use barrier methods of contraceptive (e.g. condoms) for 7 days.
If intercourse had taken place during the previous 7 days, the more missed tablets and the closer it is to the pill-free interval - the greater the risk of pregnancy.
If you have missed tablets and do not get withdrawal bleed in the first intended pill-free interval, there is a possibility of pregnancy.
You can take a pill from a spare strip if you have any, and that means you can continue your other pills as normal and stay in sync.
The spare strip will come in useful in future if you lose any other pills.
You should folllow the instructions as per the "If you lose a pill" section above.
You should follow the instructions as per the "What to do if you miss a pill" section.
Do not store above 25°C and keep out of the light.