Logynon

What is Logynon?

Logynon is a branded combined contraceptive pill that protects you from getting pregnant.

It’s known as a ‘triphasic’ pill, which are those that contain three different dosages of progesterone and oestrogen that you take for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break in which you take no pills. Triphasic pills often produce less side effects.

The 21 active pills are three different colours, for each of the three dosages. Six are light brown (containing 30/50 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel), five are white (containing 40/75 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) and 10 are yellow, containing 30/125 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel).

As a triphasic pill, because it contains different amounts of hormones and mimics the body’s natural cycle very closely, it’s very important that Logynon pills are taken in the correct order.

What is Logynon ED?

Logynon ED is a 28-day combined contraceptive pill. It contains 28 pills (21 active pills and 7 inactive pills), rather than just 21 active pills, as is the case with Logynon. It may be a more convenient option for women who would prefer not to have a 7-day break from taking pills.

How effective is Logynon?

When it’s used perfectly, Logynon is more than 99% effective at stopping you from becoming pregnant. So out of 100 women taking it correctly over 12 months, less than one will get pregnant.

But if you miss a pill from time to time or if you use it in error, your risk of pregnancy increases slightly, typically to around 91%. To avoid this from happening, simply take Logynon once a day at the same time. To help you stick to a dosage routine, you might find it helpful to set an alarm each day, or leave the pills somewhere you’ll see them (such as a bathroom cabinet).

How to take Logynon pills

Each pill in the strip has a day of the week marked next to it, so you can take each one on the day of the week that it corresponds with. Take one pill at the same time every day. It’s best to take your first pill on the first day of your period, as this will give you immediate protection from pregnancy.

Start by taking pill number one, and mark that day of the week beneath the heading, ‘I took my first pill on’ by piercing the small, foil disc that isn’t numbered. This is there to help remind you of the day you started your strip on.

Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip until you have taken all 21 pills. You can swallow each pill whole with water if you prefer to, but don’t chew the pills. Once you’ve finished the strip, have 7 pill-free days. So if you take the final pill of a strip on a Friday, take the first pill of the next pack on the Saturday of the following week.

A couple of days after taking the last pill from the strip, you should get a withdrawal bleed, like a period. You may still be experiencing this bleed by the time you start your next strip of pills; this is nothing to worry about. It’s important that you start your new strip on time.

So long as you’ve taken your pills correctly and start your next strip of pills when you should, you don’t need to use any additional contraception during your 7 pill-free days. If you’ve taken Logynon correctly, you’ll always start a new strip on the same day of the week.

Why are Logynon pills different colours?

Logynon strips contain three different dosages of hormones, these pills are in three different colours, to indicate to you which dosage is which.

Six pills are light brown (containing 30/50 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel), five pills are white (containing 40/75 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel) and 10 pills are yellow (containing 30/125 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel).

Because the strips contain pills that have different quantities of hormones in them, it’s especially important to take them in the correct order (by following the arrow and days of the week on the strip), so that the pills can work effectively.

What to do about a Logynon missed pill

If less than 12 hours have passed since you missed a pill, take the pill you missed immediately and any further pill as you would normally, even if this means taking two pills at the same time. Your protection from pregnancy shouldn’t be affected.

Should you find that it’s been more than 12 hours since your missed pill, or if you’ve missed more than one pill, take the pill you missed most recently straight away. Leave any pills you missed earlier than this in the strip. Take any pills that follow at the usual time, even if you have to take two pills in one day. You’ll need to use extra contraception such as a condom for the next 7 days.