Feanolla

What is Feanolla?

Feanolla is a type of progestogen-only pill (POP),  a type of hormonal contraceptive pill commonly known as the mini pill. Unlike combined contraceptive pills, which contain two active ingredients, synthetic versions of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, Feanolla contains only one synthetic hormone, a progestogen called desogestrel. This hormone mimics the female sex hormone progesterone.

What is Feanolla Used For?

Feanolla is a type of oral contraceptive pill which is taken daily to stop you getting pregnant. Because Feanolla does not contain oestrogen, it is a suitable birth control option for anyone who cannot or chooses not to take oestrogen, such as anyone who is over 35 and smokes or breastfeeding. 

Like some other mini pills, Feanolla may also impact your bleeding pattern. Some people may experience lighter periods, or find that they stop completely. Others may encounter irregular or more frequent bleeding. It’s important to note that despite this possibility, Feanolla is not licensed to treat heavy or painful periods, and more suitable treatments are available.

Feanolla will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. The most reliable contraception method to protect you and your partner from STIs is condoms.

How Does Feanolla Work?

Feanolla contains a synthetic progestogen called desogestrel, which mimics the natural female sex hormone progesterone. Unlike other mini pills, the main way that Feanolla works is by preventing ovulation. One study investigating the effectiveness of a 75 mcg desogestrel pill, the same active ingredient and dosage as Feanolla, found that ovulation occurred in 1% of people taking the mini pill, meaning it is 99% effective at stopping a mature egg from being released from the ovaries. 

Feanolla also thickens cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to enter the womb.

How Long Does Feanolla Take to Work?

If you start taking Feanolla on the first day of your period, you will be protected against pregnancy straight away, and will not need to use any additional contraception. 

However, if you start taking Feanolla on days 2 to 5 of your period, you will not have immediate protection against pregnancy, and you will need to use an additional barrier method of contraception, such as condoms, for the first 7 days of taking Feanolla.

If you start Feanolla at any other time in your cycle, you should follow the advice of your clinician and/or the Patient Information Leaflet. It is also important that you make sure you are not pregnant before starting treatment.

How Effective Are Feanolla Pills?

The progestogen-only pill, including Feanolla, is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when it is used correctly. However, the NHS states that when typical use is considered, which includes things like missing a pill, being sick, or having diarrhoea, the mini pill is closer to being 91% effective. This means that 9 out of 100 Feanolla users will become pregnant in a year.

A clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of a 75 mcg desogestrel mini pill and a 30 mcg levonorgestrel pill found that pregnancy occurred in 1 in 727 people using the desogestrel pill compared to 3 in 257 in the levonorgestrel group. This demonstrates that the desogestrel pill is highly effective at preventing pregnancy. 

How to Take Feanolla 75 Microgram Pills

Each pack of Feanolla contains 28 tablets, with the days of the week printed on the blister and arrows indicating the direction to follow when taking your pills. You should swallow your pill whole with a glass of water at the same time every day. Feanolla is taken once every day with no breaks between packs. 

To take your pill, you should:

1. Start by taking a pill from the top row. Choose the pill that corresponds with the correct day of the week. So, if it is Monday, take the pill from the top row marked ‘MON’.
2. Continue taking one pill every day, at the same time each day, following the direction of the arrows, until the pack is finished.
3. When you finish a pack, start the next pack the next day without any breaks or waiting for a bleed.

If you are unsure about how to take Feanolla, contact your clinician for advice or check the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your pill.

When to Start Feanolla

The best time to start Feanolla is on day one of your period. If you start taking it on this day, you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start taking Feanolla on days 2 to 5 of your period, you’ll need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the first 7 days of taking the pill.

If you start taking Feanolla at any other time during your cycle, you should make sure you are not pregnant by taking a pregnancy test, and speak to your clinician about the best way to start Feanolla.

Changing From Other Contraceptives

It is possible to change from another type of contraceptive to Feanolla, but there are some specific instructions you must follow depending on which type of hormonal contraception you are switching from.

Other Mini Pills

You can stop taking your current mini pill on any day and start taking Feanolla straight away. There is no need to use an additional method of contraception.

Combined Pills, Vaginal Rings, Transdermal Patch

You can start taking Feanolla on the day after you take the last tablet from your current pill pack, or on the day your vaginal ring or contraceptive patch is removed. This means you will not have a pill-free, patch-free, or ring-free break.

If your current pill contains inactive pills, start taking Feanolla the day after your last active tablet, and throw away the inactive pills. If you’re not sure which is your last active pill, speak to a clinician or pharmacist. If you follow these instructions, you will be protected against pregnancy straight away and will not need to use an additional contraception method. 

If you start the day after your ring, patch, or pill-free break ends, you will need to use an additional barrier method of contraception, such as condoms, for the first 7 days of taking Feanolla.

Feanolla Missed Pill Guidance

If you forget to take Feanolla, what you will need to do will depend on how late you are taking the pill. The more consecutive pills you miss, the higher the chance that Feanolla will not work and you could become pregnant. If you have difficulty remembering to take your pill, it can be useful to set an alarm on your phone or get a pill reminder app to remind you that it is time to take your pill.

If you are less than 12 hours late taking Feanolla, take the missed pill as soon as you remember, and continue taking your next pills as usual. Your protection against pregnancy will not be reduced.

If you are more than 12 hours late taking Feanolla, take the latest missed pill as soon as you remember and take your next pills at the usual times. You will need to use an additional method of contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.

If you missed one or more pills in the very first week of your pills and had sex in the week before that, there is a chance you could become pregnant. You should speak to your clinician for advice as you may need emergency contraception.

What if You Take Too Many Feanolla Pills

If you take more Feanolla pills than you should, it is unlikely to cause you serious harm, and there have been no reported serious harmful effects from taking more than one Feanolla tablet at once. However, you may experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or vaginal bleeding. If you are concerned or you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor for advice.

If You Suffer From Gastrointestinal Disturbances

If you are sick within 3 to 4 hours of taking Feanolla, or develop severe diarrhoea, there is a chance the active ingredient may not have been absorbed properly. If this happens, you should follow the missed pill guidance in the Patient Information Leaflet or speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Feanolla Side Effects and Cautions

Before you start taking Feanolla, you should familiarise yourself with its potential side effects and cautions, so that you know what to expect. This will enable you to make a more informed decision about whether the medication is suitable for your circumstances.

Feanolla Pill Side Effects

Like all medicines, Feanolla can cause side effects, although not everyone will get them. For many people, these side effects are mild and temporary, improving once their bodies get used to the active ingredient.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of Feanolla side effects. You can find a full list of potential adverse reactions in the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your pill, or you can view it online.

If you experience any side effects while taking Feanolla, you should tell a doctor or report them to the Yellow Card Scheme. By reporting side effects, you will help provide more information about this medication's safety.

Feanolla Pill Cautions

There are some risks when taking a progestogen-only pill like Feanolla. You should contact a doctor as soon as possible if you have taken Feanolla and any of the following apply to you:

• You have swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and/or difficulty breathing or swallowing, or hives, which could be a sign of an allergic reaction. Call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E as this is an emergency.
• You have severe pain or swelling in either of your legs, unexplained pains in your chest, breathlessness, or an unusual cough, especially if you are coughing up blood, as these can be signs of a blood clot.
• You have a sudden, severe stomach ache or your skin or the whites of your eyes are yellow (jaundice), which could be signs of a liver issue.
• You feel a lump in your breast, which could be a sign of breast cancer.
• You have a sudden or severe pain in your lower abdomen or stomach, as this could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy where a pregnancy develops outside of the womb.
• You are going to be off your feet for a while, or you need surgery (you must tell your clinician at least 4 weeks before the procedure).
• You have unusual, heavy vaginal bleeding
• You think you might be pregnant.

Breast Cancer Risk

Breast cancer is slightly more common in people who take the pill compared to those of the same age who have never taken it. However, the risk returns to the same level as people who have never taken the pill, 10 years after you stop taking it.

Although the risk of breast cancer is only slightly increased in pill users, it is important to understand it. The risk of getting breast cancer isn’t influenced by how long you take Feanolla for, but by the age at which you stop using it because breast cancer risk increases with age.  
 

If you are concerned about the risk of breast cancer while taking Feanolla or you have a family history of breast cancer, speak to your clinician.

Risk of Thrombosis

The risk of developing a blood clot (thrombosis) while taking Feanolla is believed to be lower than taking a combined pill. However, the risk of a thrombosis is higher in pill users compared to non-pill users, although there is a risk of getting a blood clot even if you are not taking the pill, and if you are pregnant.

If you have a history of blood clots, you must let the clinician know during your consultation, so they can determine if Feanolla is suitable for you. Because Feanolla does not contain oestrogen and the risk of blood clots is slightly lower in mini pills, if you are over 35 and smoke, Feanolla may be a more suitable contraceptive option for you. However, smoking should be avoided because of the wider health risks. Our quit smoking service can help you give up for good.

Feanolla Interactions and Warnings

Feanolla may not be suitable for everyone, even though it is an effective and reliable method of contraception. It’s important that you discuss any current health conditions you have or any medications you are taking with a clinician before starting Feanolla, so they can ensure it is safe for you.

Do not take Feanolla if you:

• Are allergic to desogestrel, soya, peanuts, or any of the other listed ingredients in this pill
• Have a blood clot in a blood vessel in your legs, lungs or any other organs (thrombosis)
• Have or have had yellowing of the skin (jaundice) or severe liver disease and your liver function has not yet returned to normal
• Have or are suspected of having a type of cancer that is sensitive to sex hormones, such as breast cancer
• Have any unexplained vaginal bleeding

FSRH/CoSRH guidance advises that desogestrel should not be used by people with a current or previous meningioma. Speak to a clinician about alternatives if this applies to you.

Before You Start Taking Feanolla Pills

Before starting Feanolla, tell the clinician if you have:

• Ever had breast cancer
• Liver cancer
• Ever had a blood clot (thrombosis)
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Tuberculosis
• High blood pressure
• Or have ever had chloasma (yellowish-brown pigmentation patches on your skin)

Your doctor may need to closely monitor you while you are taking Feanolla if any of the following apply to your circumstances. They will explain what you will need to do. 

Feanolla Interactions

Some medications can interact with Feanolla, affecting its effectiveness and potentially making it unsafe. During your consultation, it is important that you tell the clinician about any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications you are taking, so they can see if Feanolla is safe for you.

Tell the clinician before taking Feanolla if you are taking medications for the following:

• epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, topiramate, phenobarbital)
• tuberculosis (e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin)
• HIV infections (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz)
• Hepatitis C virus infection (e.g. boceprevir, telaprevir)
• other infectious diseases (e.g. griseofulvin)
• high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (bosentan)
• depressive moods (the herbal remedy St. John's Wort)
• certain bacterial infections (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• fungal infections (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole)
• high blood pressure (hypertension), angina or certain heart rhythm disorders (e.g. diltiazem)

If you are taking any medicines or herbal products that could make Feanolla less effective, you should also use a barrier method of contraception, like condoms. You may need to do this for up to 28 days, though your clinician can advise on the exact duration. 

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take Feanolla if you are, think you might be, or are trying to get pregnant. Feanolla may be used while breastfeeding. It does not appear to affect breast milk production or quality, although infrequent decreases in milk production have been reported. Small amounts of the active substance can pass into breast milk; speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding and want to use Feanolla.

Frequently Asked Questions About Feanolla Pills