Millinette is a combined hormonal contraceptive pill that gives you some flexibility. It’s available in two different doses, so if you’re a little more sensitive to oestrogen, it’s a pill that can give you fewer side effects.
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Millinette is a combined contraceptive pill that contains a low dose of oestrogen (it’s sometimes referred to as a ‘low-dose’ combined pill). Some women are more sensitive to oestrogen than others, and are more prone to side effects from it. If this applies to you, Millinette may be a particularly suitable choice.
It’s a 21-day pill, so you take it for 21 days, and then have a seven-day ‘pill-free’ break. But you can also use it continuously (one pill every day, with no pill-free break) or more extensively (one pill daily for nine weeks, and then no pills for the following four or seven days).
How does Millinette work?
Like other combined pills, Millinette protects you from getting pregnant in three ways.
The two hormones in Millinette prevent ovulation from taking place (when an egg is released from your ovary) to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant.
The pill also helps the mucus in the cervix get thicker, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg.
The lining of the uterus is made thinner too. This lining builds up over the course of your cycle, and then breaks down when you have your period. Because the pill makes the uterine lining thinner, it’s harder for a fertilised egg to embed itself there and grow. It usually means that your period is also lighter, and less painful.
How effective is Millinette?
If you take it as instructed, it’s over 99% effective. So if 100 women take it perfectly over 12 months, just one will get pregnant.
But if you make mistakes when you use it, or if you miss a pill here and there, it’s slightly less effective. You can help to avoid this by taking it at the same time every day, as advised in the information leaflet that comes with your treatment.
MillinetteEthinylestradiol/Gestodene
How to take Millinette pills
If you start to take Millinette on the first day of your period, you’ll get immediate protection from pregnancy. You can also start to take Millinette on days two to five of your period, but if you do this, you should use additional contraception for the first seven days while the pill takes effect in the body.
Take the pill at the same time each day, in the order displayed on the strip, until you have finished all 21 pills.
Once you have finished the strip, take a seven-day pill-free break. It’s likely that you’ll experience a bleed during this time. So long as you’ve taken the pill correctly and not missed any pills, you don’t need to use any other form of contraception over the seven-day break.
After the seven pill-free days have passed, start a new strip. You may still get some bleeding at this point, but you should start a new strip regardless. If you take the pill as instructed, you should always start a new strip on the same day of the week.
You should read the instructions in the information leaflet that comes with your treatment before starting to take Millinette.
Are there other ways I can take Millinette?
Yes. You can also take Millinette on a continuous basis (1 pill every day, with no pill-free break) or on an extended basis (1 pill every day for 9 weeks, and then no pills for the next 4 or 7 days). If you’d prefer to take Millinette in either of these ways, our prescriber can talk you through each option during your consultation.
What to do about a Millinette missed pill
If less than 12 hours have passed since you missed a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember. Take any pills that follow at the usual time. This will not affect the protection from pregnancy that Millinette offers you.
Should you find that more than 12 hours have passed since you forgot to take a pill, or if you forgot to take more than one pill, your protection from pregnancy may be reduced. As soon as you remember, take the pill you missed most recently, even if this means taking two pills on the same day.
You should then take any pills that follow at the same time, and use an extra form of contraception, such as condoms, for the next seven days. If you take the last pill from the strip during this seven-day period, start taking pills from a new strip as soon as the current strip is finished, without taking a seven-day, pill-free break.
It’s unlikely that you’ll get a withdrawal bleed while taking pills from the second strip, but you can get some blood spots or breakthrough bleeding. If you don’t get a withdrawal bleed after you finish the second strip, let our clinician know, as you may be pregnant. They can advise you on what to do next.
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MillinetteEthinylestradiol/Gestodene
MillinetteEthinylestradiol/Gestodene
FAQ: Millinette
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.
Millinette 30/75 or 20/75: which should I take?
Answer:
So there are two doses of Millinette available, and the difference is that one has 20mcg of a type of oestrogen in it and the other has 30mcg of a type of oestrogen in it.
While Millinette 20/75 may be more suitable for women who are prone to side effects from oestrogen with the combined pill, Millinette 30/75 can have improved, secondary benefits. Because there is more oestrogen in it, the higher dose may be more effective at treating acne, and reducing premenstrual symptoms that women can experience in the run-up to a period, such as feeling anxious or upset, abdominal pain and difficulty sleeping.
In terms of which dose you should take then, the lower option may be better if you find that oestrogen gives you quite a few side effects, whilst the 30/75 pill might be more suitable if you get acne, or if you experience symptoms pre-period.
What is the branded name for Millinette?
Answer:
Millinette is also known as Femodette. It contains the same hormones and works in the same way, and both products are as effective as each other at reducing your risk of pregnancy.
The only real difference between the two is that Millinette is made by Gedeon Richter, whereas Femodette is made by Bayer. This means that the appearance of the pills and the packaging will not look the same. Femodette as the branded treatment is slightly more expensive. But otherwise, there’s nothing to separate the two pills.
Can I delay my period by taking Millinette?
Answer:
You can, but you should discuss this with our prescriber beforehand, as Millinette isn’t used for this in the first instance.
To delay your period, start a new strip of pills immediately after finishing your current strip, without taking a seven-day pill-free break. You may get some spotting or breakthrough bleeding during the new strip. Once you’ve got to the end of the new strip, take the seven-day pill-free break as you would normally, and start the next strip.
Does Millinette cause weight gain?
Answer:
There’s not much evidence that the combined pill causes weight gain (or weight loss).
You may find that you put on slightly more weight when you first start to use the combined pill, but normally any gains in weight are caused by other things. The combined pill can increase fluid retention in the body to begin with, and this can mean that you put on a little more weight, but it isn’t much, and it shouldn’t last for any longer than a couple of months.
If you find that your weight goes up and down when taking Millinette, let us know. We may be able to help you find a different pill that works better for you.
Is Millinette 20/75 the same as Loestrin 20?
Answer:
Pretty much. Loestrin 20 is no longer available, and has been discontinued.
Millinette 20/75 works in the same way though, and contains the same amount of oestrogen as Loestrin 20. Like Loestrin 20, Millinette is a low-dose combined pill, and has a reduced amount of the hormone in it, so it’s particularly suitable for women who are prone to side effects or are sensitive to oestrogen.
The only differences are that Millinette is made by a different company (Gedeon Richter) and the packaging and the pills themselves look different. Millinette also doesn’t contain the same progestogen as Loestrin 20 (gestodene, rather than norethisterone) but these hormones work in the same way in the body.
What’s the difference between Millinette and Rigevidon?
Answer:
Rigevidon is a combined contraceptive pill that’s often used as a starter pill for women, and in many cases it doesn’t cause any problems. But it does contain twice as much of a progestogen than pills like Millinette, so some women may find that it triggers side effects, such as mood changes or acne.
We can talk you through both pills, and help you to decide which may be better for you during your consultation.
Why should I buy Millinette with Treated?
Answer:
We’re making birth control simpler. Tell us about your health, and our clinicians will recommend treatments that are safe and suitable for you. You then choose which contraceptive you’d like, how often you’d like us to deliver it to you, and the quantity of it you want to receive. You can change, pause or cancel your plan whenever you like.
We’re on hand to answer any questions about your treatment. All you need to do is log into your account and drop us a message. We’ll check in with you regularly to find out how you’re getting on with your birth control, and if you’d like us to make any changes to your treatment.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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