Co-cyprindiol

What is Co-cyprindiol?

Co-cyprindiol is used to treat acne, overly oily skin and excessive hair growth in women. Co-cyprindiol also has a contraceptive effect, providing the same contraceptive cover as the combined pill, although it’s never prescribed solely for use as a contraceptive.

Co-cyprindiol is taken daily for 21 days of the pack, followed by a seven-day break.

How does Co-cyprindiol work?

Co-cyprindiol contains a combination of two active ingredients. One is Ethinylestradiol, which is a synthetic form of oestrogen, and the other is Cyproterone acetate, which works as an anti-androgen.

Co-cyprindiol works by blocking androgen receptors which reduces the effects of androgen on your skin. Androgens are hormones in the body that can cause the skin to produce too much sebum, an oily substance that can trigger acne. By blocking androgen receptors, Co-cyprindiol helps put a stop to acne.

Androgen can also cause excess hair growth on the face and some parts of the body. Co-Cyprindiol helps to prevent this, with the female hormones in it acting as a counter to androgen.

The hormones in Co-cyprindiol also work in a similar way to those in the pill. Not only do they stop your ovaries from releasing eggs, they also change the consistency of the uterine wall, which makes it more difficult for an egg to implant there. The hormones also thicken the vaginal fluid, which makes it harder for sperm to travel through it. Because Co-cyprindiol acts as a contraceptive, you must not take any other hormonal birth control while using it.

What doses of Co-cyprindiol are there?

There is only one dosage of Co-cyprindiol and that consists of one tablet for the first 21 days of your cycle, followed by a seven day break. Each tablet contains 2mg of Cyproterone acetate and 35 mcg of ethinylestradiol. If Co-cyprindiol doesn’t work for you or you develop side-effects, our clinician can talk you through your options if you sign in to your account and send them a message.

How to take Co-cyprindiol

• The first time you take Co-cyprindiol, take it on the first day of bleeding of your next period.
• Continue taking one pill every day, preferably at around the same time each day, for 21 days. This is one entire foil pack.
• During the next seven days, do not take a Co-cyprindiol tablet.
• A few days after the last pill you will have a period which will probably be lighter than usual and painless.
• During the seven pill-free days, you are unlikely to become pregnant if you have taken the pills correctly. Start the next pack after seven days.
• Even if you are still bleeding, begin the next pack after seven pill-free days, on the same day as you started the first pack.

How long does it take Co-cyprindiol to work?

You will need to use this treatment for three months in order to experience the full benefit of Co-cyprindiol, and it may be necessary to continue treatment for longer. You should have the treatment reviewed periodically in order to check it is working effectively.

How long can I take Co-cyprindiol for?

Your clinician will usually recommend stopping Co-cyprindiol after your skin has cleared. This can take between three to six months.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Co-cyprindiol?

If you are less than 12 hours late taking a pill, just take the pill as soon as you have
remembered and then carry on taking the following pills at the usual time. This shouldn’t have an effect on the level of contraceptive prevention.

But, if you are more than 12 hours late taking a pill or have missed more than one pill, your level of contraceptive protection may be lower.

Take the most recent ‘late’ pill and continue to take the next pills at the usual time. Use an extra contraceptive method for the next seven days. Once you resume taking the tablets again, if the pack you are currently using runs out before the end of seven days, start on the next pack without a break. This means you will not have the usual seven pill-free days, but this isn’t harmful. You will not have a period until the end of the next pack although you may experience some bleeding on pill-taking days, but this is nothing to worry about.

If you don’t have a period after the second pack, then you will need to speak to our clinician and you shouldn’t start taking Co-cyprindiol again until our clinician advises you to, as you may be pregnant. During this time you will need to use another contraceptive method.