Drovelis

What is Drovelis?

Drovelis is an oral combined contraceptive pill that helps prevent pregnancy. It contains two hormones: drospirenone and estetrol. These hormones work in a few different ways to prevent pregnancy, like by preventing your eggs from being released and thickening your cervical lining. It’s over 99% effective when taken perfectly.

Drovelis contains 28 pills, four of which are placebos, meaning they don’t contain any active hormones. This is helpful if you want a monthly bleed with a consistent routine.

Additionally, Drovelis can help make your period lighter and less painful, which is beneficial for women with PCOS or endometriosis.

How does Drovelis work?

Drovelis contains two hormones: drospirenone, a synthetic progesterone, and estetrol, a synthetic oestrogen. It works in three main ways to prevent pregnancy.

1. Stopping ovulation. Without a mature egg, no egg is released for fertilization.
2. Preventing the uterus lining from thickening. This makes it difficult to hold an egg.
3. Thickening cervical mucus. This makes it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg.^[1]

What doses of Drovelis are there?

Drovelis comes in one dose containing 3mg of drospirenone and 14.2mg of estetrol. It contains 28 pills: 24 active pills and 4 placebo pills, which contain no hormone. This is useful for women who want a monthly bleeding, while maintaining a consistent routine.

How to take Drovelis

Drovelis contains 28 pills: 24 pink active pills, numbered 1-24, and 4 white placebo pills, numbered 25-28.

You’ll start with the pink active tablet and follow the arrow around until the blister is finished. You’ll take one tablet daily, preferably around the same time each day.

When you reach the white tablets, continue taking the pill as usual. During this time, you’ll get your period for around four days.

Once you finish the white pills, start the new blister pack — even if your bleeding hasn’t stopped.

If you follow this accurately, it means you’ll start a new blister pack on the same day every month, and get your period around the same time.

How to start Drovelis

If you haven’t used a hormonal contraceptive in more than a month

Start Drovelis on the first day of your period. This will give you immediate protection against pregnancy.

If you start on days 2-5 of your cycle you’ll need to use an additional contraceptive, like a condom, for seven days.

If you’re switching from another combined contraceptive method

You can start Drovelis after your last active pill or after the last inactive pill finishes – this way you’ll have continued protection against pregnancy.

If you’re changing from a combined contraceptive, vaginal ring, or patch, ask your doctor for medical advice on how to switch.

If you’re switching from a progesterone only method (mini-pill, IUD, injection or implant)

If you’re switching from the mini pill, you can do so any day.

If you’re changing from the IUD or implant, start Drovelis after removing it.

For the injection, you can start Drovelis on the day your next injection is due.

In all of these scenarios, wear a condom for the next seven days.

After having a baby

You can start Drovelis on days 21-28 after having a baby. If you started after day 28, you’ll need to use an additional barrier method, like a condom, for the next seven days.

If you had sex after having your baby, make sure you’re not pregnant before starting Drovelis.

How long does Drovelis take to work?

This depends on when you started it. If you took on the first day of your period, you’ll have immediate protection, but if you started on days 2-8, you’ll need to use a condom for the next seven days until your protection builds up.

If you take Drovelis around the same time every day, you’ll have 24/7 protection. But if you miss a pill or delay taking it, the effectiveness may be reduced.

I forgot to take a pill, now what?

If you forget to take a white pill, don’t worry. These pills are placebo and shouldn’t affect your protection.

If you miss a pink active pill:

If it’s been less than 24 hours, take the pill when you remember and continue with your normal schedule. You should still have protection against pregnancy

If it’s been more than 24 hours, the protection may be reduced so you might have to use an additional barrier method for seven days. For detailed information, check the patient leaflet.