Femodene

Rare but serious side effects of taking Femodene can include:

• Increased heart rate

• Blood clots and thrombosis

• Slight increase in the risk of breast and cervical cancer

If you experience any severe side effects, including any symptoms of an allergic reaction i.e. difficulty breathing, swelling etc. you should seek emergency medical attention. If you experience any prolonged side effects or side effects which begin interfering with your life, you should speak to your doctor to discuss alternative treatments.

Very common side effects of taking Femodene (affecting 1 in 10 people) include:

• Headache

• Diarrhoea

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Menstrual problems (painful or irregular periods)

• Gastrointestinal problems

Common side effects of taking Femodene (affecting 1 in 100 people) include:

• Acne

• Back pain

• Chest pain

• Constipation

• Depression

• Dizziness

• Difficulty sleeping

• Mood changes

• Weight gain

What is Femodene?

Femodene is a type of combined oral contraceptive pill. It contains the active ingredients ethinylestradiol and gestodene which are synthetic versions of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progestogen, respectively. Femodene is usually prescribed for the prevention of pregnancy, but may also be prescribed to alleviate period pain, delay your period or control mood swings associated with the menstrual cycle.

How does Femodene work?

Femodene contains synthetic versions of female sex hormones. This means that is artificially increases the levels of these hormones in your body, disrupting you natural fertility. These hormones prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation), but also they thicken the mucus around the entrance to the womb (cervix), to make it harder for the sperm to pass through and find an egg to fertilise.

Femodene vs Femodene ED

The only difference between Femodene and Femodene ED is that a pack of Femodene ED also contains placebo pills which you take instead of having a break from pills during your period. Femodene ED may be more suitable for you, if you have difficult keeping track of when to take your pills? 

What is the difference between Femodene and other contraceptive pills?

The main difference between Femodene and other contraceptive pills is the forms of synthetic hormones that are used. All combined oral contraceptive pills contain synthetic forms of the female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. However, the exact ingredients may be slightly different. In Femodene the active ingredients are ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen) and gestodene (synthetic progestogen). Another type of contraceptive pill called the mini-pill or progestogen-only pill is also available. These pills do not contain a synthetic oestrogen and may be more suitable for you if you have migraines. These pills are designed to be taken in a certain order and every day, without a break for your period.

Who is Femodene most suitable for?

Femodene may be more suitable for you if you:

• Are under 40 years old

• Are not diabetic

• Are a non-smoker, or a smoker under 35 years old

• Are a healthy weight, not obese

• Are not a migraine sufferer

• Have taken the contraceptive pill before

• Have experienced side effects from other contraceptive pills in the past

When to start taking Femodene

If you are currently taking another contraceptive pill, you can start taking Femodene as soon as you finish your last pack of pills. Otherwise, ideally you should take the first pill on the first day of your period. You can start taking Femodene on a different day, but you should use another contraceptive method for approximately a week, until the Femodene becomes effective.

Femodene contains the active ingredients ethinylestradiol and gestodene. Ethinylestradiol is a synthetic version of oestrogen and gestodene is a synthetic version of progestogen.