Pinning down the right combined pill for you can be tricky. So let’s take the hassle out of it.
We can show you the different options and make recommendations tailored just for you. Order the combined pill online and get your treatment on subscription.
Standard oestrogen dose pill that's very similar to Femodene and Millinette.
Safest category combined pill, with a lower risk of oestrogen side effects. Very similar to Levest.
Comes as a 'standard' oestrogen dose or a lower dose option. Very similar to Marvelon and Mercilon.
Very similar to Microgynon and Levest. Safest category pill that helps with heavy menstrual bleeds.
Phased dose pill, similar to TriRegol. Designed to match changes in hormone during your cycle.
Lower dose version of Katya. Less oestrogen, better if you've had side effects on higher doses.
Standard oestrogen dose. Similar to Millinette and Katya. 21 and 28 pill options available.
Very similar to Microgynon and Levest. Safest category pill that makes menstrual bleeds lighter.
Very similar to Yasmin. Can help with PMS and making your periods more regular.
Safest category pill, helps with heavy menstrual bleeding. Very similar to Rigevidon and Microgynon.
Well known pill that reduces PMS symptoms and can help to make your periods more regular.
Also known as Cilest. Can help to make your periods more regular.
Like Yasmin but in a lower dose. 28 day pill you take without a break.
Safest category pill that reduces heavy bleeding. Same hormone mix as Levest and Rigevidon.
Lower dose version of Femodene. Comes in a 21 pill pack or a 28 pill pack you take without a break.
Same hormone mix and dose as Femodene and Marvelon. Lower oestrogen version available.
Pill with a 'regular' oestrogen dose. Comes in a 21 pack. Very similar to Cimizt and Gedarel 30.
Very similar pill to Cilest and Cilique. Can help to make periods more regular.
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They’re pills that combine two types of hormone: oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones affect how and when your body prepares for pregnancy.
There are several different types of combined birth control pill and they’re all just about equally effective at preventing pregnancy. However, some contain higher doses of hormones than others, or use different types of progestin and oestrogen. This means one pill might be ideal for easing specific PMS symptoms, while another pill works great for women who are extra-sensitive to hormones.
It can feel a bit overwhelming, so we’re here to help.
The combined pill works in three ways to prevent pregnancy. Here’s the big one: it stops ovulation. That’s when your ovary releases an egg, and it happens once a month. Each egg has the chance to become fertilised, leading to pregnancy. If fertilisation doesn’t happen, the lining of your womb breaks down and the whole thing happens again next cycle (lots of fun, we know).
Because the combined birth control pill stops ovulation, your chances of becoming pregnant are significantly reduced.
The combined birth control pill also protects you by making the mucus in your cervix thicker. “Thick mucus” isn’t something you normally want to hear but in this case, it’s great news. When it’s thicker, sperm have a much harder time reaching the egg.
The pill also makes your uterine lining thinner. This lining builds throughout the month and then breaks down during your period. When you’re using birth control, the lining doesn’t build in the same way. And so the period you have while taking the pill should be shorter, lighter and more predictable.
Any that contain two active ingredients, a progesterone and an oestrogen. To find out if your pill is a combined pill, just check the active ingredients.
In the leaflet that comes with your pill, the ingredients should be clearly listed at the top underneath the name of the drug. For combined pills you should see two ingredients, front and center, that are progestin and oestrogen.
With Loestrin, for example, the active ingredients are norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol. This pill is clearly stated as a progestin-oestrogen combination.
We offer a range of combined birth control pills, so there’s plenty of choice for you. But if you can’t take combination pills, for any reason, it’s important to share this with us for your safety.
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There are two ways of measuring how effective pills are at preventing pregnancy. One way is according to perfect use. This means you take the pill exactly as you should, every day, without making a mistake. The level of effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill when taken like this is over 99%. So in a whole year, fewer than 1 in 100 women taking the combined birth control in that time will become pregnant.
The other way is typical use. This is when you take the pill but make realistic errors, such as forgetting the occasional pill or taking it late. It’s 91% effective when taken like this, which means about 9 in 100 women taking it over a year will become pregnant.
The best way to make sure the pill is effective then is to follow the instructions as closely as you can when you take it.
It depends on whether you’re taking the pill for the first time, coming back after a break, or switching from a different type of birth control. If you’re using the pill for the first time, you can start on any day.
When you start using the pill on the first day of your period, you’re protected from becoming pregnant immediately — so you don’t need to worry about using a condom. You’ll also be protected immediately if you start taking the pill before the fifth day of your period.
If you start using the pill after the fifth day of your cycle, you won’t be protected right away. Use a back-up birth control method (like condoms) for seven days while the pill starts to work.
Another option is the Sunday start approach. If you start taking the pill on the first Sunday after your period begins, you avoid withdrawal bleeding on a weekend (if you want to skip having your period on a weekend, this is the way to go).
You shouldn’t leave a gap when you’re switching from one birth control method to the combined pill. If you’re already taking a hormonal birth control pill, start your new prescription the day after you finish your last pill.
If you’re using a transdermal patch like Evra, start the pill a day before you’re due to take off the patch. If you’re using the vaginal ring, start the pill a day before you’re set to take out the ring.
If you normally have the Depo-Provera injection, you can start taking your pill up to 15 weeks after your last shot.
And if you have an IUD (copper or hormonal), you should begin your combined birth control pill pack a week before having your IUD removed.
Your contraception guide. NHS.
Estrogen and Progestin (Oral Contraceptives): MedlinePlus Drug Information.
No. Whilst all contraceptive pills have the same effectiveness (so over 99% when they’re used correctly), some pills contain variations of the same hormone, or higher or lower doses of hormones than others. It may be that you’re more sensitive to progestin (or oestrogen) in the combined pill for instance, and so you’ll be better off taking a particular pill that restricts the number of side effects you get.
If you’re more sensitive to progestin for example, combined pills like Microgynon, Levest and Ovranette are the safest, and the least likely to trigger side effects. And if you’re more sensitive to oestrogen, combination pills such as Lucette, Yasmin and Yacella should offer you the best protection from side effects.
Unless you’ve tried a few different pills and found one that works well for you, there’s a good chance that you won’t know which is the best option. Finding the right combination pill for you can involve some trial and error. And our bodies can change over time, so what was effective before might not suit you as well now. A consultation with our clinician will help you to narrow down your options.
Besides your sensitivity to hormones in pills and whether you’re prone to certain side effects, there are other factors that may play a role in identifying the right pill for you too. If you’re looking for a pill that can also help with acne, for example, the likes of Yasmin (or the generic version, Lucette) are thought to be particularly strong choices. But at the same time, you may be at a slightly higher risk of getting a blood clot with these treatments, so the pros and cons of specific pills also need to be taken into account.
In short then, we can help you to pick out the best (and safest) combination pills for you by weighing these things up, using your health background as the basis.
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
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