| Strength | Quantity | Price | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20mcg/75mcg | 63 tablets | £16.95 |  |
Reviewed by Dr Samantha Miller MB ChB
(2017, University of Glasgow)
GMC number: 7561464
Information last reviewed 26/02/2021
Femodette is a type of oral contraceptive, known as the combined pill. It contains two active ingredients – ethinylestradiol and gestodene – which are synthetic versions of the female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. Femodette is prescribed primarily as a contraceptive, but some doctors may also prescribe Femodette for period delay, alleviation of period pains and to help mood swings associated with the menstrual cycle.
Femodette is a type of the combined contraceptive pill used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. It works by releasing synthetic versions of progesterone and oestrogen, which stop an egg from being released from the ovary each month. It also prevents sperm from entering through the cervix by thickening cervical mucus, and also thins the womb lining to make it difficult for an egg to attach itself should fertilisation occur.
The best time to start taking Femodette is on the first day of your period where it will start to work straight away. If you start taking it on days 1-5 of your cycle then you'll have immediate protection. You can start taking Femodette at any time during your cycle but if it's after day five then you'll need to use an additional method of contraception, like condoms or a diaphragm, for seven days.
Femodette is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if it is taken correctly.
The active ingredients in Femodette are progestogen gestodene and oestrogen ethinylestradiol.
The other ingredients include lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate (E170), talc, montan glycol wax.
You should ideally start taking Femodette on the first day of your period as this ensures you will have protection right away. You can also begin taking the pill at any point in your cycle as long as there is no chance that you are pregnant. If you start taking it after the first day of your period you'll need to use additional contraception like condoms for the first seven days to ensure you are protected from pregnancy.
Femodette is taken once a day at the same time each day. The pill packs have the days of the week marked on each one to help you remember to take them. One pack lasts for 21 days. After this, you take a seven-day break before starting the next pack which is when you'll likely have a withdrawal bleed, similar to a period.
Each pill contains 75 micrograms of gestodene, a progestogen and 20 micrograms of ethinylestradiol, an oestrogen. One pill should be taken daily for 21 days, before taking a 7-day pill-free break.
If it's been more than 12 hours since you were due to take your pill then this counts as a missed pill. You should take it as soon as you remember and take your next one at the correct time. It's fine to take more than one pill on the same day. After missing a pill you should use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the next seven days to ensure that you are protected from pregnancy. If you have missed more than one pill, and have had unprotected sex during this period, you may require emergency contraception and should contact your pharmacy or doctor.
If you take your pill later than your scheduled time then this won't affect your protection, provided it’s taken within 12 hours of the usual time. Take the pill as soon as you remember and continue to take the rest as usual.
Common side effects that may occur when taking Femodette include:
Uncommon side effects that may occur when taking Femodette include:
Rare side effects that may occur when taking Femodette include:
Other undesirable effects may include:
The most serious side effect of combined hormonal contraception is a blood clot. If you experience any signs of a blood clot, such as pain in the leg or chest, then seek immediate advice from a doctor.
Do not take Femodette if you:
Have any of the following diseases that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries:
You should discuss any pre-existing medical conditions with your prescriber to make sure the pill is suitable for you.
Medicines that interact with Femodette include:
Drinking alcohol will not affect Femodette.
Microgynon 30, Levest, Ovranette and Rigevidon are the most commonly prescribed versions of the combined pill. Aside from the mini pill, other long term contraceptives include the contraceptive implant, patch or injection and the IUD or IUS.
Femodette differs from the mini pill as it contains both an oestrogen and a progestogen. The mini-pill only contains a progestogen. Both contraceptive pills work in similar ways and the mini-pill may be a good option for women who are unable to take the combined pill.
If you are looking to switch your contraceptive pill then discuss this with one of our doctors who can recommend the best one for you. The pill isn't suitable for everyone and sometimes you'll need to try a few different types to find the one that works for you. If you are switching to Femodette then start taking it as soon as you finish your current pack, skipping the seven day break. If you are taking the progesterone only pill then begin Femodette on the first day of your period, even if that means taking the two different pills at once.
The combined pill is often prescribed to help treat acne, ease the symptoms of PMS and to make your periods lighter and less painful.
You can delay your period by running two packs of Femodette back to back instead of taking the usual seven-day break. This will allow you to skip your period until you reach the end of the next pack.
If you vomit within four hours of taking Femodette then it's likely the hormones have not been absorbed by your body. If this happens, take another pill right away and then continue with the rest of your pack as normal. If you continue to be ill then you should use additional contraception for the next seven days as your protection is likely to be affected.
Your fertility should return as soon as you stop taking Femodette. For some women, it can take a few months to get pregnant but for others, pregnancy may occur right away. It usually takes a few months for your menstrual cycle to return to normal as your body adjusts to its natural hormone balance.
Femodette and Femodene are two different brands of the combined contraceptive pill. They are similar but contain slightly different hormonal ingredients. Desogestrel is the name of the progestogen hormone in Femodette whereas Femodene contains gestodene. They both contain the oestrogen ethinylestradiol.
Taking Femodette won't stop your periods unless you intentionally run two packs back to back in order to skip your period.
If you are healthy and have no underlying issues with your blood pressure then this is unlikely to be an issue. Women with existing high blood pressure may find that Femodette exacerbates this. This is something your doctor will discuss with you before prescribing the pill to determine if it is suitable. If you are a smoker over the age of 35 then you are at particularly high risk.
Prices from:
Quick and discreet
Amazing service will definitely be using again!!
Lucie