Microgynon

About Microgynon Pills

Microgynon is a combined oral hormonal contraceptive pill containing artificial versions of the progestogen, levonorgestrel and the oestrogen, ethinylestradiol. Each pill contains 150 micrograms (mcg) of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol, which is usually taken every day for 21 days before having a 7-day pill-free break to stop you getting pregnant.

When taken correctly, Microgynon is one of the most reliable, reversible and safe oral contraceptives available. It is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, as stated by the NHS, when typical use, such as illness (vomiting and diarrhoea), forgetting to take it, or missing a pill completely, is taken into account, it is closer to 91% effective. That means every year, 9 people who use Microgynon will get pregnant.

Microgynon also has the added benefit of making your periods lighter and less painful. However, it does not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as Chlamydia or HIV, from being spread. The most reliable method of contraception for keeping yourself protected against STIs is condoms.

How Does Microgynon Work?

The two ingredients in the Microgynon contraceptive pill are designed to act like the naturally occurring hormones oestrogen and progesterone. They work together to prevent pregnancy in 3 ways:

1. Suppressing the release of hormones that cause the monthly release of a mature egg from the ovaries, a process known as ovulation. This is the primary mechanism of action for Microgynon
2. Thickening cervical mucus to make it more difficult for sperm to reach the womb and fertilise an egg
3. Thinning the endometrium (womb lining) to reduce the chances of a fertilised egg implanting there

How Long Does Microgynon Take to Work?

Microgynon 30 pills start working immediately to prevent pregnancy if you start taking them on the first day of your period. For added precautions, you may want to use additional forms of contraception (such as condoms) for 7 days if you start treatment on days 2 to 5.

If you begin with Microgynon more than 5 days after the start of your period, you will not be protected from pregnancy straight away. You must therefore use another type of contraception until you've taken the pill for 7 days.

How to Take Microgynon

Microgynon 30 is taken once a day for 21 days, preferably at the same time each day. This is followed by a 7-day pill-free period. During the pill-free period, you will experience a lighter and less painful withdrawal bleed, similar to a period. A new 21-day tablet cycle is started after the 7-day pill-free period.

If you do not experience bleeding during the pill-free period, you must ensure you are not pregnant before starting the next tablet cycle.

When to Start Taking Microgynon 30

If you're new to taking Microgynon pills, or are restarting after a break, it's recommended to take your first tablet on the first day of your next period. Doing so will mean you are protected from falling pregnant. You could also begin on days 2 to 5 of your period, but you may want to exercise caution and use condoms for 7 days as well.

What To Do if I Miss a Microgynon Pill?

If you have missed a Microgynon pill, what you'll need to do depends on when you should have taken the missed pill.

If you should have taken Microgynon less than 12 hours ago:

• Take the missed pill as soon as you remember, even if this means taking two pills in one day.
• Continue taking your pills as usual at the same time each day.
• Your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

If you are more than 12 hours late taking Microgynon or you have missed more than one pill, you should:

• Take the most recently missed pill straight away, even if that means taking two pills in one day.
• Leave any earlier missed pills in the strip.
• Take your future pills as usual.
• Use condoms for the next seven days

Your next step is to check how many Microgynon tablets are left in the strip and follow the instructions below:

7 or More Pills Left in the Strip

• Use condoms for the next 7 days.
• When you have finished the strip, have the usual 7-day pill-free break before starting the next Microgynon strip

Fewer than 7 Pills Left in the Strip

• Use condoms for the next 7 days.
• When you have finished the strip, start the next strip the next day. Do not have a pill-free break.
• If you do not have a withdrawal bleed after you have finished the second strip, take a pregnancy test before starting the next strip.

Should you have missed one or more pills on days 1 to 7 of the strip, and you had unprotected sex in that week, there is a chance you could be pregnant. Speak to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about emergency contraception.

If you have missed any pills in the strip and you do not have a bleed in the first pill-free break, you could be pregnant. Speak to your clinician or do an at-home pregnancy test.

If you start a new strip late or make your pill-free break longer than seven days, you may not be protected against pregnancy. If you had sex in the last week, speak to your clinician for advice, as you may need emergency contraception. You should also use an extra contraception method, like condoms, for the next seven days.

What Should I Do if I Accidentally Take More Microgynon than I Should?

If you take more Microgynon pills than you should, it is unlikely to cause you any harm, but you may feel sick, vomit, or have some vaginal bleeding. Speak to your clinician if you get any of these symptoms and you have taken more Microgynon pills than you should.

What Should I Do if I Am Sick (Vomit) or Have Diarrhoea?

If you are sick (vomiting) or have severe diarrhoea within 4 hours of taking the pill, your body may not have absorbed all of the active ingredients. If you are better within 12 hours of taking Microgynon, you should follow the lost pill instructions, which means you can either:

1. Take the last pill of the strip in place of the lost pill and continue taking the rest of your pills on the correct days. Your cycle will be shorter than usual, but your protection against pregnancy will not be reduced. After your 7-day break, your start date will be 1 day earlier than before.
2. Or you can take a pill from a spare strip of Microgynon 30 if you have one. Then, take the rest of your pills from the current strip as usual. You can keep the opened strip as a spare strip in case you lose any more pills in the future, and your starting day will stay the same.

If you are still unwell more than 12 hours after taking Microgynon, follow the missed pill advice. If your upset stomach continues, speak to your clinician who may recommend another type of contraception.

How to Switch to Microgynon From Another Contraceptive Pill

If you want to switch to Microgynon from another pill, what you need to do will depend on the type of pill you are currently using.

Microgynon Side Effects and Cautions

Microgynon is generally considered safe and well-tolerated. However, it is important to be aware of the adverse effects. It is always better to be prepared, and we recommend familiarising yourself with Microgynon before use. Our clinicians are available to provide one-to-one expert advice if you suspect any unusual effects may be due to Microgynon.

Microgynon Pill Side Effects

Like all medications, there is potential to experience Microgynon 30 side effects. These are often mild, and some people may not notice any adverse effects at all.

Possible Microgynon side effects include:

This is not a complete list of potential Microgynon 30 side effects. For more information, you should read the patient information leaflet that comes with your pill or is available online.

If you get any of the above side effects or any that are not listed here, you should report them to your doctor or directly to the MHRA's Yellow Card Scheme.

Allergies

Do not take Microgynon 30 if you are allergic to ethinylestradiol, levonorgestrel, or any other ingredients in the pill.

Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Swelling of your hands, face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• A red, bumpy rash (hives) and itching

If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, call 999 or have someone take you to A&E.

The Microgynon Pill and Blood Clots

The combined pill slightly increases your risk of getting a blood clot compared to people who have never taken it. Although the risk is small, you should know that the risk of developing a blood clot in a year is as follows:

• About 2 in 10,000 women who are not using the combined pill and are not pregnant
• About 5 to 7 in 10,000 women who are using a combined pill that contains levonorgestrel, including Microgynon 30

If you are concerned about the risk of blood clots, section 4.4 of the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) provides more details. Alternatively, you can discuss your concerns with your clinician.

Signs of a blood clot include:

• Swelling in one leg
• Severe headaches
• Coughing up blood
• Sudden weakness or numbness, especially down one side of the body
• Unexplained breathlessness or rapid breathing
• Pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest

While still overall small, the risk of developing a blood clot with Microgynon 30 can be increased by factors such as smoking, obesity, and a family history of the condition. It is also highest during the first year of treatment or if you're restarting after a break of 4 weeks or more.

Microgynon may not be suitable if you're due to undergo elective surgery or are likely to be immobile for an extended period. In this case, your clinician may recommend alternatives, such as a progestogen-only (mini) pill.

Breast Cancer Risk

If you have or have had breast cancer, you should not take the pill. The risk of developing the condition increases the longer you are on the pill, but returns to normal within 10 years of stopping it.

• Around 16 in 10,000 people who have never taken the pill will get breast cancer by the time they are 35, compared to 17-18 in 10,000 who have taken the pill for 5 years in their early twenties.
• About 100 people in 10,000 who have never taken the pill will get breast cancer by the time they are 45, compared to 110 out of 10,000 people who have taken the pill for 5 years in their early thirties.

The risk of getting breast cancer increases if you:

• Have a close family member (grandmother, mother, or sibling) who has had breast cancer
• Are severely overweight

Speak to your clinician about any concerns you have about breast cancer and the pill.

Microgynon Interactions and Warnings

Microgynon 30 is not suitable for everyone. Some medical conditions may mean that you cannot take it. Your clinician will review your medical history to confirm that Microgynon is safe for you to take before issuing a prescription.

Do not take Microgynon if you:

• Are allergic to any of the ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet
• Have or have ever had a blood clot in your leg, lungs, or any other organ
• Have a blood-clotting disorder
• Need an operation or are going to be off your feet for a while
• Have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• Have or have ever had angina pectoris or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
• Have a disease that increases your risk of a clot in the arteries (severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high levels of fat in the blood, hyperhomocysteinaemia)
• Have or have ever had a migraine with aura
• Have or have ever had breast cancer
• Have ever had severe liver disease and have been told your liver function test results are not yet back to normal
• Have ever had liver tumours

You should let your clinician know if you have any other medical conditions that are not listed here. If you have been told you are intolerant to some sugars, such as lactose or sucrose, tell your clinician before taking Microgynon.

Microgynon and Other Medications

There are some medications that can be unsafe to take with Microgynon. It is essential to inform the doctor if you are taking any other medications, including prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines, to ensure they are safe to use with Microgynon.

Please inform our clinicians if you are on:

• Epileptic medications
• HIV or hepatitis C medications, such as protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
• Griseofulvin
• St John's Wort

Do not take Microgynon 30 if you have hepatitis C and you are taking any medicines containing:

• Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir
• Dasabuvir
• Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
• Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir

Most antibiotics are considered safe to take while on Microgynon, as they do not affect how the treatment works. This is not the case for medications that impact liver enzymes (for example, rifabutin and rifampicin), as these can lower Microgynon's effectiveness.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Microgynon if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or want to get pregnant. If you think you are pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

You should tell your clinician or family planning nurse if you are breastfeeding before taking Microgynon. They may suggest an alternative contraceptive method.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microgynon 30 

Sources

Cochrane (2012): Combined oral contraceptive pills for treatment of acne.
EMC (2023): Microgynon 30 tablets.
EMC (2023): Patient Information Leaflet.
NHS (2026): Tricycling the contraceptive pill.
NICE (2024): Scenario: Combined oral contraceptive.
PubMed (2014): Combination contraceptives: effects on weight.