Triadene

What is Triadene?

Triadene is a type of the combined pill taken by women to prevent unwanted pregnancy, containing both estrogen and progesterone hormones. 

How does Triadene work?

Triadene works by releasing synthetic versions of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone into the body to prevent pregnancy. It stops the ovaries from releasing an egg, thickens the mucus surrounding the cervix and thins the lining of the womb. Combined, these steps prevent sperm from entering from the vagina and stop an egg from implanting into the uterine wall should fertilisation occur.

How effective is Triadene?

When used correctly, Triadene is 99% effective.

When does Triadene start to work?

If you start taking it on the first day of your period, Triadene will start to work right away. If you begin the pill on days 2-5 of your period you may not be protected from pregnancy right away. In this case you should use an additional barrier method of contraception for the first 7 days.

Triadene for non-contraceptive purposes

Triadene also provides some non-contraceptive benefits. It can prevent premenstrual symptoms and cause your periods to be lighter, regular and reduce period pain. The combined pill is also used to help treat acne and endometriosis.

Can you use Triadene for period delay?

If you are using a combined contraceptive pill such as Triadene and wish to delay your period, you can do so by skipping the pill free week and running two packs together. This will delay your period for a further 21 days. If you are looking for a treatment specifically to delay your period, Norethisterone tablets are available for this purpose. You can purchase this through Dr Felix whenever you need them.

Active ingredients

Gestodene and ethinyloestradiol are the active ingredients contained in Triadene.

Inactive ingredients

The other ingredients are: lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate (E572), sucrose, macrogol 6000, sodium calcium edetate, calcium carbonate (E170), talc, montan glycol wax, titanium dioxide (E171), ferric oxide pigment brown and yellow (E172), glycerin (E422).

Triadene for endometriosis

The combined pill is often issued to women with endometriosis as the first line of treatment. In many cases it keeps the symptoms under control and prevents debilitating period pain but for some women this may not be enough. To take Triadene for endometriosis, the pill is taken for 3-4 monthly blocks without the pill free weeks. Always follow the advice given by your doctor before using the pill to treat endometriosis.

Switching contraceptive pill

Changing from one type of contraceptive pill to another is a straightforward process. For a different type of the combined pill, finish your current pack and begin taking Triadene the following day. Do not take your usual pill free week. You can stop taking the mini pill at any time and begin Triadene right away but you will need to use additional contraception for the first 7 days. 

What should I do if I miss a pill?

If you miss a pill, take the missed one right away even if that means you are taking two pills at the same time. Keep taking the rest of your pills on time and use additional contraception for the next 7 days as your protection may be affected. You should also take this action if you have missed more than one pill, taking the most recent missed one and discarding any earlier ones. If you have had sex in the days leading up to this then there is a chance you may be pregnant. If you are unsure of what to do, speak to a doctor or pharmacist right away.

What should I do if I took a pill too late?

If you take your pill later than usual, this will not affect your contraception. Keep taking the rest on time and you may find it useful to set an alarm reminder on your phone to help you remember to take your pill on time. 

If I have vomited, will Triadene still work?

Triadene may not work if you have vomited within 4 hours of taking it. If this happens, take another pill right away and keep taking the rest at your usual time. If you continue to be sick then use additional contraception until you have felt better for 7 days. 

When can I get pregnant after taking Triadene?

If you stop taking Triadene you can get pregnant at any time. While some women may fall pregnant right away, for others it could take longer. Your natural period may take 1-2 months to return and it is recommended to wait until then before you try for a baby.

Is it safe to take Triadene for a long time?

If you do not have any underlying health conditions or concerns, then Triadene is safe to take for a long time. You will need to have yearly check ups to make sure your blood pressure remains steady while you are taking the pill. 

When will my period start again after I stop taking Triadene?

Your period should return after 2-3 weeks of stopping Traidene. It can take 1-2 months however, everyone’s body will adjust differently. 

How to start Triadene

Triadene should be started on the first day of your period which will mean you are protected from pregnancy right away. You can also start it on days 2-5 but you will need to use condoms, or another barrier method of contraception, for the first 7 days. 

How to take Triadene

You should take Triadene everyday for 21 days (3 weeks). When you finish one pill strip wait 7 days until you start the next one. This is when you will have your monthly bleed. The next pack must be started on time, even if you are still bleeding. Triadene can be taken at any time during the day but it must be taken at the same time each day in the correct order. Choose a time where it will be convenient for you to take it. 

The beige tablets contain 50mg of gestodene and 30mg ethinyloestradiol. 

The dark brown tablets contain 70mg of gestodene and 40mg ethinyloestradiol. 

The white tablets contain 100mg of gestodene and 30mg ethinyloestradiol.

How to use Triadene for period delay

If you wish to delay your period with Triadene, skip the pill free week and run two packs back to back. This will delay your period for another 21 days. It is not recommended to do this more than one month in a row. 

Possible side effects include: 

• Headaches 

• Nausea 

• Breast pain or tenderness 

• Breakthrough bleeding 

• Spotting 

• Depression 

• Mood changes

• Poor tolerance of contact lenses 

• Weight changes 

• Chloasma 

• Loss of sex drive 

• Abdominal pain 

• Fluid retention 

• Skin reactions 

• High blood pressure 

• Blood clots 

• Disturbed liver function 

• Gallstones

Contraindications

Do not take Triadene if: 

• You have ever experienced a blood clot 

• You have ever had a heart attack or stroke 

• You have a family history of blood clots 

• You have a condition which can affect your blood clotting 

• You have ever had angina 

• You have heart problems 

• You have high blood pressure 

• You smoke more than 40 cigarettes a day

• You are over 50

• You are a smoker over 35

• You have diabetes with blood vessel damage 

• You experience migraines with aura 

• You have ever had breast cancer 

• You have unexplained vaginal bleeding 

• You have systemic lupus erythematosus 

• You have liver disease 

• You have jaundice 

• You have gallstones 

• You have porphyria 

• You have galactose intolerance 

• There is a chance you may be pregnant

Consult your doctor before taking Triadene if: 

• You are over 35

• You have a family history of heart disease or strokes 

• You smoke 

• You are obese 

• You are diabetic 

• You use a wheelchair 

• You have thrombophlebitis 

• You have sickle cell anaemia 

• You have a history of depression 

• You have a history of migraines 

• You have inflammatory bowel disease 

• You have a history of high levels of fats in your blood 

• You may have breast cancer 

Drug Interactions

Certain medications can interfere with the way Triadene works, causing it to be less effective. These include: 

• HIV medications 

• Hepatitis C medications 

• Epilepsy medications 

• Griseofulvin 

• Rifabutin 

• Rifampicin 

• St John's wort 

Always inform your doctor or pharmacist about any medicines are currently taking, or planning to take. 

Triadene vs the mini pill

Triadene contains two types of hormones, whereas the mini pill only contains progesterone as the active ingredient. It is also referred to as the progesterone only pill. The mini pill is safe to use for most women, including those with high blood pressure and women over the age of 35 who smoke. It does not cause potential long term health risks but it can still result in short term side effects like mood swings, nausea and breast tenderness. It is also taken everyday throughout the month and does not work as a method of controlling your period.

Alternatives to Triadene

Other combined pills which contain the same ingredients include: 

• Katya

• Millinette

• Sunya

• Femodene 

• Femodette 

These, alongside many others, are all available to order online from Dr Felix. The mini pill is a good alternative for women who are at risk from taking the combined pill or who are sensitive to the effects of estrogen. Barrier methods of contraception include condoms and diaphragms and other long term options are the copper or hormonal coil, injection or implant. 

Sources

Information Leaflet http://mcs.open.ac.uk/nlg/old_projects/pills/corpus/PIL/data/Schering/Triadene/Triadene.html

Net Doctor> Triadene https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/sexual/a7683/triadene-ethinylestradiol-and-gestodene/