Lovima

What is Lovima?

Unlike most other mini pills, Lovima is a monophasic contraceptive. This means that each tablet has an equal amount of desogestrel (Lovima’s active ingredient) to help prevent you getting pregnant.^[1]
Compared to combined contraceptives, the Lovima mini-pill is still very effective while typically causing fewer, if any, side effects.

How effective is Lovima?

When used perfectly, progestogen-only oral contraceptives like Lovima are over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.^[2] However, this is if you use them exactly right. Taking the odd pill late or occasionally missing one is known as typical use. Typical use causes Lovima’s effectiveness to drop to around 91%. This means around one-in-nine women taking Lovima typically will get pregnant in a year.

Lovima is very effective when compared to other birth control methods as well. In a study in which 989 subjects were randomly assigned desogestrel (75 mcg) or levonorgestrel (30 mcg) over 13 treatment periods of 28 days, desogestrel had better contraceptive efficacy and was adhered to similarly when compared with levonorgestrel. ^[3]

Is Lovima safe?

Unlike combined pills, Lovima mini pills don’t contain any oestrogen. This means they pose a lower risk of side effects to the user. Lovima is also suitable for women who are breastfeeding. ^[4]

Some women get minor side effects on Lovima, like irregular periods and headaches. However, once your body gets used to Lovima, these effects should pass.

How to take Lovima

Starting Lovima will be different depending on whether you’ve used other contraception before, or if you’ve recently been pregnant. Check the following Lovima instructions and follow which applies to you.

If you’re not using any kind of hormonal contraception at the moment, and haven’t in the past month:

• Wait for your period to begin. Start taking Lovima between days 1-5 of your menstrual cycle (day 1 is the first day of your period). You’ll be protected from pregnancy immediately and don’t need to use any other contraception.
• If you start at any other time, you’ll need to use a barrier method (like condoms) for the next seven days.

If you’re starting or continuing Lovima after taking emergency contraception:

• Get in touch with your clinician for advice on taking Lovima after emergency contraception. Typically, it’s advisable to wait until the first day of your next menstrual cycle before taking Lovima.
• Lovima can be taken with emergency contraception that contains levonorgestrel. You can start or resume Lovima on the same day that you take levonorgestrel. You’ll need to use barrier contraception like a condom for the following seven days, though.
• You shouldn’t take Lovima and emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate (like ellaOne) at the same time. Wait five days after taking ulipristal acetate before starting Lovima. Use a barrier method (like condoms) during those five days and for the first seven days of taking Lovima.

If you’re changing to Lovima from a combined pill (COC):

• Take your first Lovima pill the day after the last active tablet from your current course. Some combined pills can have inactive tablets in a course, so speak with your clinician if you aren’t sure. You don’t need to use any additional contraception.
• If there’s a break between taking your last combined pill and starting Lovima, you’ll need to use a condom (or other barrier contraception) for seven days after starting Lovima.

If you’re changing to Lovima from a vaginal ring or transdermal patch:

• You can start Lovima the same day that your patch or ring is removed, without the need for additional contraception.
• If you don’t start Lovima the same day that you have your patch or ring removed, you’ll need to use barrier contraception, like a condom, for seven days after starting Lovima.

If you’re changing from another progestogen-only mini pill:

• Start taking Lovima the next day without a break. You don’t need to use any other type of contraception while changing.

If you’ve given birth recently, and your period hasn’t started again:

• Start taking Lovima before your period starts.
• If it’s been more than 21 days since you gave birth and you start Lovima, you’ll need to use a condom or other barrier contraception for seven days. If you’ve had sex in this time, make sure you’re not pregnant before starting Lovima.
• If your period has started again, follow the same instructions you would if you’re not using any kind of hormonal contraception at the moment, and haven’t in the past month.

After starting Lovima, take one tablet every day at around the same time, until you finish the pack. Follow the direction of the arrows on the pack while taking Lovima, and swallow the tablets whole with water. Once you’ve finished a strip, start a new one on the following day without a break.

What should I do if I miss taking Lovima?

The Lovima mini pill allows a window of 12 hours before your pill counts as missed. So, if you forget to take your pill, as long as it’s not been more than 12 hours since your usual time, there’s no cause for alarm.

If you’re more than 12 hours late taking your pill, you might not be protected against pregnancy. Take the missed pill as soon as you remember (even if this means taking two in one day) and use a barrier method (like condoms) for the next seven days. If you’ve missed more than one tablet, you don’t need to take more than one for the doses you missed earlier.^[1]