Femodene Contraceptive Pill

Femodene Contraceptive Pill

How does Femodene work?

Femodene is a combined contraceptive pill containing two female sex hormones, oestrogen (ethinylestradiol) and progestogen (gestodene). Together, they prevent pregnancy in three ways:

1. Stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg
2. Thickening the fluid (mucus) in your cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the womb
3. Preventing the lining of your womb from thickening enough for a fertilised egg to implant

Femodene won’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or HIV. Only condoms can help with this.

Who can use Femodene?

Femodene is suitable for adult women who need reliable contraception.

Don’t use Femodene if you:

• Have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (such as DVT or pulmonary embolism) or an artery (such as a heart attack or stroke)
• Have a blood clotting disorder such as protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies
• Have ever had a heart attack, stroke, angina or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• Have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high cholesterol or triglycerides, or a condition called hyperhomocysteinaemia
• Have a type of migraine called migraine with aura
• Have or have ever had breast cancer
• Have severe liver disease or liver tumours, and your liver function tests haven’t returned to normal
• Are allergic to any of the ingredients in Femodene
• Have hepatitis C and are taking medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir
• Are pregnant or think you might be pregnant

Speak to your doctor before using Femodene if you have or have had:

• Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Elevated fat levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) or a family history of this condition
• Varicose veins or inflammation in the veins under the skin (superficial thrombophlebitis)
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure or a family history of heart or circulation problems
• A family history of blood clotting problems
• Porphyria
• Migraines
• Obesity
• Any illness that worsened during pregnancy or previous use of the pill
• A need for surgery or prolonged immobility

How To Take Femodene

When you start taking Femodene, take 1 pill daily for 21 days, following the direction of the arrows on the strip marked with a day of the week. Taking your pill at the same time each day helps maintain consistent hormone levels. Swallow it whole with water – don’t chew it.

After finishing all 21 tablets, have a 7-day pill-free break. You’ll usually have a withdrawal bleed during this time. Start your next strip after the 7 days, even if you’re still bleeding. You’re protected against pregnancy during the 7-day break, as long as you’ve taken Femodene correctly.

Femodene Side Effects

Like all medicines, Femodene can cause side effects, though not everyone gets them.

Common Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• Feeling sick
• Stomach ache
• Weight gain
• Headaches
• Depressive moods or mood swings
• Sore or painful breasts

Uncommon Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:

• Vomiting and stomach upsets
• Fluid retention
• Migraine
• Loss of interest in sex
• Breast enlargement
• Skin rash, which may be itchy

Rare Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people:

• Poor tolerance of contact lenses
• Weight loss
• Increased interest in sex
• Vaginal or breast discharge

Other Side Effects

• Bleeding or spotting between periods, particularly in the first few months. This usually settles once your body adjusts to Femodene.
• Chloasma (yellow-brown patches on the skin). Avoiding excessive sun exposure and UV lamps may reduce this.

Serious Side Effects

Stop taking Femodene and contact a doctor immediately if you experience signs of:

• A blood clot, such as painful swelling in one leg, sudden breathlessness, sharp chest pain, sudden weakness or numbness, or a sudden severe headache
• A severe allergic reaction or angioedema, including swelling of the face, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a red bumpy rash
• Breast cancer, including dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple, or any lumps you can see or feel
• Cervical cancer, including unusual vaginal bleeding, discharge that smells or contains blood, pelvic pain or painful sex
• Severe liver problems, including severe upper abdominal pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or whole-body itching

If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your doctor or pharmacist. You can also report side effects via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Femodene Ingredients

Active ingredients: Gestodene 75 micrograms, ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms

Other ingredients: Lactose, maize starch, povidone, magnesium stearate (E572), sodium calcium edetate, sucrose, macrogol 6000, calcium carbonate (E170), talc, montan glycol wax

Femodene contains lactose and sucrose. If you have been told you have an intolerance to some sugars, speak to your doctor before taking it.

Warnings and Precautions

• Femodene slightly increases the risk of blood clots – the risk is highest in the first year of use or when restarting after a break of 4 or more weeks. Tell your doctor if you have any conditions that may increase this risk.
• If you need surgery or are facing a period of immobility, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking Femodene at least 4 weeks beforehand to reduce the risk of blood clots.
• The pill slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. This risk rises the longer you take it, but returns to normal within about 10 years of stopping. Check your breasts regularly for any changes and report anything unusual to your doctor.
• Taking the pill has been linked to a small increase in the risk of cervical cancer. Go for regular cervical smear tests as recommended by your doctor.
• Some women using hormonal contraceptives have reported depression or low mood. If you experience mood changes, speak to your doctor.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you’re taking, including herbal remedies. Some medicines can make Femodene less effective, including certain epilepsy medicines, antibiotics, antifungals, HIV and hepatitis C treatments, sedatives and St John’s Wort.
• Femodene can affect the results of some blood tests. Tell your doctor or the laboratory that you’re taking it before any blood test.
• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not store above 25°C. Keep the tablets protected from light.
• Do not use after the expiry date shown on the strip.