Brevinor

What is Brevinor?

Brevinor is a tablet you take to prevent pregnancy. It’s a combined contraceptive, so it has two different active ingredients that stop you from getting pregnant. They are artificial forms of the hormones progesterone and oestrogen.

You’ll usually take a Brevinor pill everyday for 21 days, then have a break. This is when you’ll have your period (properly called ‘withdrawal bleeding’). Brevinor is a safe and effective contraceptive treatment. It can also make your periods less painful or heavy because of the hormones in it.

How does Brevinor work?

Brevinor contains two active ingredients, norethisterone and ethinylestradiol. Norethisterone is a lab-made version of progesterone, a hormone that occurs naturally in the human body. Ethinylestradiol is a lab-made version of oestrogen, the other main female sex hormone.

The norethisterone in Brevinor prevents pregnancy in a few different ways. As it’s a progestin, it mimics the effects of progesterone, which reaches naturally high levels during your non-fertile window and after conception. So progestins stop an egg from being released, keep your womb lining too thick for an egg to implant and thicken your cervical fluid to stop sperm reaching your uterus. When you have high levels of a progestin, it also stops you from having your period.

The ethinylestradiol in Brevinor helps stop you from getting pregnant too. It works with the norethisterone to stop you from ovulating and it prevents as many follicles from growing in your uterus. It does this by lowering your levels of two different hormones, called FSH and LH.  Together, these ingredients keep you well protected against pregnancy.

What doses of Brevinor are there?

Brevinor only comes in one dose. It contains 0.5mg of norethisterone and 35mcg of ethinylestradiol, which is a pretty low amount of oestrogen. So it may be less likely to cause side effects for you than other combined pills with a higher amount of oestrogen. Brevinor comes in blister packs of 21 tablets. You’ll take one pill of Brevinor everyday until you finish your blister pack. Then you’ll usually have a seven day break so you can have your period.

How to take Brevinor

Always take Brevinor as your clinician tells you.

• When you start taking Brevinor, take your first pill on the first day of your period. If you don’t have periods, ask your clinician for advice on when to start.
• Brevinor blister packs are marked with days of the week to make taking them easier. Take the pill marked with the day it is when you first start taking it.
• You can take Brevinor tablets with or without food. You should take them with water to make swallowing easier.
• It doesn’t matter which time of day you take Brevinor, but you should try to take it at the same time everyday. Set an alarm or use a medication reminder app if you’re worried about forgetting.
• Keep taking one pill everyday until you finish your blister pack.
• When you’ve finished one blister pack of tablets, take a seven day break. This will usually be when you have your period (properly known as withdrawal bleeding). You might bleed on some or all of these days.
• After the seven days are over, start the next blister pack. It’s very important to take the first pill of the new pack on time so you’re protected from pregnancy.

How long does it take Brevinor to work?

Brevinor is absorbed quickly. It reaches peak levels in your blood just one to three hours after taking it, so it starts working in your system right away. But it won’t necessarily protect you from pregnancy right away.

How long it takes for Brevinor to work as a contraceptive will depend on when you first take it, if you’ve recently been pregnant or given birth and if you’re switching from another contraceptive method.

If you’re switching right from another oral contraceptive, leave seven days before you start taking Brevinor. This will give your system time to get rid of the hormones from the previous pill. Then, use another method of contraception like a condom until you’ve been taking Brevinor for seven days.

If you’ve just had a baby and you’re not breastfeeding, start taking Brevinor 21 days after giving birth. You should be protected straight away. If you’re breastfeeding, combined contraceptives aren’t usually recommended. Talk to your clinician about your options.

If you haven’t been taking oral contraceptives and you take the first Brevinor pill on day one to five of your period, it should be effective right away. If you’ve just had a miscarriage or termination, Brevinor should work in preventing pregnancy if you take it on the day.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Brevinor?

If you forget to take your Brevinor tablet, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next tablet, even if it means taking two on the same day. If you’re more than 12 hours late in taking your missed tablet, it may not be effective. Keep taking your pills as normal, but use an extra method of protection like a condom for seven days. If you miss a tablet and you have less than seven pills left in your blister pack, finish the pack and start on the next one without a break. This will protect you from pregnancy. You might not have a period, but you may experience some light bleeding. This is normal and nothing to worry about.