Gedarel

What is Gedarel?

A combined pill that helps prevent pregnancy, primarily. You can get it in two doses - 20 and 30 - and you take it once daily for the first 21 days out of every 28.

But besides birth control protection, contraceptives like Gedarel can have other uses too. For women who take Gedarel acne relief can sometimes be a welcome secondary effect. A clinician might also prescribe a combined pill like Gedarel for endometriosis relief in certain cases.

How do Gedarel tablets work?

The pill works in three separate ways. Firstly, it changes the level of hormones in the body that would otherwise lead to the release of an egg. Without an egg to fertilise, pregnancy obviously becomes much less likely. It also thickens the mucus in the neck of the womb, making it almost impossible for the sperm to get through the cervix. And by altering the lining of the womb, it makes it difficult for a fertilised egg to embed itself.

How effective is Gedarel?

Over 99%. For every 100 women who take the combined pill according to the instructions, over a period of one year, less than one will get unexpectedly pregnant.

But people make mistakes. It’s quite common to miss a pill or to not take it on time. So there’s a typical use rate of effectiveness for the pill too: about 91%. So out of 100 women using it typically, over one year, nine will get pregnant.

The best way to make sure you don’t get pregnant when taking Gedarel is to use it as correctly as you can. Take it at the same time on the days you should, and follow the instructions for advice if you make a mistake.

How to take Gedarel

It’s vital that you take Gedarel as instructed by your prescribing clinician. Not doing so will likely lead to a reduction in its effectiveness and increase the risk of becoming pregnant.

Gedarel should be taken at the same time every day for 21 straight days at the start of your period (the first day of bleeding). This provides full protection against pregnancy from the start of treatment.

If you start taking Gedarel on any other day, you will need to use a barrier contraceptive for at least seven days.

If you have been taking a different combined contraceptive pill up until the day you switch to Gedarel, you should carry on taking the new course as a continuation. If you’re switching from the mini pill, you’ll need to use a barrier contraceptive for seven days to remain protected.

At the end of your 21 days of taking it, you’ll take a seven day break before starting the next strip. Gedarel withdrawal bleeding will normally start during your break.

The days of the week are marked on the blister pack so that you can keep track of what you have taken. Tablets should be swallowed whole with water.

Can you take Gedarel back to back?

Yes, you can. But before you do, check with your prescriber that they’re happy for you to do this. There are advantages to pill ‘stacking’. It reduces the likelihood of having a period (withdrawal bleed) and some clinicians think it helps users to stick more closely to ‘perfect use’.

Gedarel and missed pills: what to do

Check the leaflet that comes with your treatment for advice on what to do if you miss a pill. You might need to use a barrier contraceptive for a week (like a condom) if you miss more than one, or if you’re more than 12 hours late taking it. If you forget but remember to take the pill within 12 hours of your missed one, you’re covered - you don’t need to take any extra precautions. Just take your next pill at the usual time.

In some cases, such as if you miss a pill towards the end of your strip, you might be advised to skip your usual 7-day break.