Marvelon Contraceptive Pill

Marvelon Contraceptive Pill

What is Marvelon used for?

Marvelon is a combined oral contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. Unlike the mini pill, it contains two types of female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen, which work together to stop you getting pregnant.

As well as contraception, Marvelon can make your periods more regular, lighter and less painful. Marvelon may also help with pre-menstrual symptoms.

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

How does Marvelon work?

Marvelon contains two active hormones: desogestrel (a progestogen) and ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen). Each pill contains 150 micrograms of desogestrel and 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol. These work together in two ways to prevent pregnancy:

1. They stop your ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Without an egg, pregnancy can’t occur.
2. They thicken the fluid (mucus) in your cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the womb.

Who can use Marvelon?

Marvelon is suitable for most healthy women, but it’s not right for everyone. There are some situations where you shouldn’t use it.

Don’t use Marvelon if you:

• Have or have ever had a blood clot in a vein (such as DVT or pulmonary embolism) or an artery
• Have a blood clotting disorder, such as protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency or antithrombin-III deficiency
• Have ever had a heart attack, stroke or angina
• Have a type of migraine called migraine with aura
• Have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, or very high levels of fat in the blood
• Have or have recently had severe liver disease, or have ever had a liver tumour
• Have a hormone-sensitive cancer, such as some breast, womb or ovarian cancers
• Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
• Are allergic to desogestrel, ethinylestradiol or any other ingredient in Marvelon
• Have hepatitis C and are taking certain antiviral medicines (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir)

Speak to your doctor before using Marvelon if you:

• Are overweight (BMI over 30)
• Have diabetes, kidney or liver problems, or a history of severe depression
• Have migraines (without aura)
• Have Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or elevated levels of fat in the blood
• Have recently given birth
• Are breastfeeding

How To Take Marvelon

Take your pill at the same time each day, following the direction of the arrows on the strip. Swallow it whole with water. Don’t chew it. The pill must be taken correctly to maintain contraceptive protection.

1. Take one pill each day for 21 days until the strip is finished
2. Take a 7-day pill-free break, during which you’ll usually have a withdrawal bleed
3. Start your next strip on day 8, even if you’re still bleeding

As long as you take Marvelon correctly and start each new strip on time, you’ll be protected during the pill-free break.

If you vomit within 3 to 4 hours of taking a tablet, treat it as a missed pill. If you have severe diarrhoea for more than 12 hours, follow the same guidance. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if your stomach upset continues.

Side Effects of Marvelon

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

Common Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 10 people:

• Headache
• Weight gain
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Depression or mood changes
• Nausea or stomach pain

Uncommon Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 100 people:

• Migraine (speak to a doctor as soon as possible if it’s your first migraine, it’s worse than usual, or the headache is severe or long-lasting)
• Fluid retention (swollen hands, ankles or feet)
• Decreased sexual desire
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Skin rash or hives
• Breast enlargement

Rare Side Effects

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

• Changes in vaginal secretions or irregular vaginal bleeding
• Discomfort wearing contact lenses
• Decreased weight
• Increased sexual desire
• Skin conditions including erythema nodosum or erythema multiforme

Stop taking Marvelon and seek immediate medical help if you experience signs of:

• A blood clot, such as painful swelling in one leg, sudden breathlessness, chest pain, sudden vision changes, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• A severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
• Breast cancer, such as dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple, or any lump you can see or feel
• Severe liver problems, such as severe upper abdominal pain or yellowing of the skin or eyes

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

Marvelon Ingredients

Active ingredients: desogestrel 150 micrograms and ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms per tablet

Other ingredients: dl-alpha-tocopherol, potato starch, povidone, stearic acid, aerosil and lactose

Marvelon contains lactose. If you’ve been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, speak to your doctor before taking this medicine.

Warnings and Precautions

• Using a combined hormonal contraceptive like Marvelon increases your risk of developing a blood clot compared to not using one. The risk is highest in the first year of use or when restarting after a break of 4 or more weeks.
• Marvelon 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.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you’re taking, including herbal products. Some medicines, including certain epilepsy, tuberculosis and HIV treatments, and St John’s Wort, can make Marvelon less effective.
• If you’re going to have an operation, tell your doctor you’re taking Marvelon. You may need to stop taking it 4 to 6 weeks beforehand to reduce the risk of a blood clot.
• Marvelon is a combined contraceptive pill, so smoking increases your risk of serious cardiovascular side effects, particularly if you’re over 35.
• If you have brown patches on your face or body (chloasma), avoid excessive sun exposure or sunbed use while taking Marvelon.
• Go for regular cervical smear tests and check your breasts monthly for any changes. Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual.
• If you need a blood test, tell your doctor you’re taking Marvelon, as it can affect some test results.
• Store below 25°C in the original packaging, away from light and moisture. Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Don’t use after the expiry date on the carton.