Femodene is a combined pill with a standard dose of oestrogen and a progestogen called gestodene. It may be a good option to try if the 'starter' pills like Microgynon and Rigevidon or similar don't suit you.
What is in the Femodene pill?
30mcg
Medium oestrogen
75mcg
Less-Androgenic progestogen
Alternative to Femodene pill
This contraceptive sits in Group 7 and has the same hormonal ingredient as:
There's no clear evidence that Femodene can affect weight. More research is needed to provide a concrete answer on this, but in the meantime make sure to take a look at our users' reviews to see how our community report the Femodene pills affects their weight.You can also take a look our guide to contraception and weight to find out more.
Is the Femodene pill good for acne?
Femodene contains a standard dose of oestrogen and a progestogen called gestodene, and research shows that this can improve acne for some people, however it's not a guarantee. Make sure to check out our user-generated reviews to see how our community report Femodene affects their complexion. Find out more in our guide to the contraceptive pill and acne.
Can I buy Femodene online?
You can order Femodene online at The Lowdown from £7 per month (including delivery). Head to our Pill Prescriptions service to fill in a short questionnaire about you and your medical history. Your request will then be reviewed by our pharmacy. We'll post a 3 month supply of your chosen pill directly to your door in discreet packaging.
Are Femodene and Millinette the same pill?
Essentially, yes. Femodette and Millinette 30/75 contain the same types and doses of oestrogen and progestogen. They just have different names.
Can you take Femodene back to back?
Yes. Femodene and combined pills like this can be taken back to back without a break between pill packets. This means that you can avoid having a withdrawal bleed between packets, but you may experience some spotting or breakthrough bleeding as you adjust to the new routine. Taking your pill like this means your pill may be more effective and you may have fewer side effects like withdrawal headaches. Find out more in our guide to continuous pill taking.
Detailed information
How the Femodene pill works:
Femodene is a combined pill that is taken daily to prevent pregnancy. It makes the fluid in your cervix thicker (which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb) whilst also stopping ovulation. Femodene also prevents the lining of your womb from thickening enough for a fertilised egg to implant into it. Femodene is around 93% effective with typical use, which means that 7 in 100 women fall pregnant whilst taking it each year. Find out more about how clinical effectiveness is determined.
There are a few things that can stop the combined pill from working properly including vomiting, some antibiotics, or missing a pill. Take a look at our complete guide to the combined pill to find out more. You can also use our Missed pill calculator to help you understand what to do if you miss a pill.
How to use the Femodene pill:
You should take your Femodene pill around the same time every day. We recommend keeping your pill packet somewhere you look at everyday (like your makeup bag) to remind you to take it, or set an alarm on your phone. Femodene is designed to be taken for 21 days followed by a 7 day break during which you'll experience a withdrawal bleed (like a period). If you want to, you can choose to shorten this break or miss it out altogether (check out our blog on taking your pill back to back. ) Depending on where you are in your cycle when you start the pill, you might not be protected against pregnancy straight away. Check out our blog about the combined pill for more info.
Coming off Femodene is easy - you just stop taking it. When you do, you’re no longer protected from pregnancy. If you want to stop the pill but do not wish to become pregnant then you should complete your current packet before stopping and consider switching to another form of contraception before you stop taking your pill. If you have unprotected sex and stop your pill before the packet is finished you may ovulate (release an egg from the ovary) and could become pregnant. You can use our Missed pill calculator if you have missed any pills from your packet. Read our complete guide to coming off the pill for more advice.
How safe is the Femodene pill:
Femodene is safe to take. There are however some small risks associated with taking the pill. With any combined type of hormonal contraception that contains oestrogen, there is a slightly increased risk of developing blood clots in your veins and arteries. The combined pill may also increase your blood pressure. Your doctor will check your individual risk before prescribing the pill. Use of the combined pill is also associated with small increased risks of breast cancer and cervical cancer. These reduce with time after stopping. It's also important to remember that the combined pills does not protect you from STIs.
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