Femodene

What is Femodene?

Femodene is a combined oral contraceptive pill that you take to prevent pregnancy. This contraceptive contains two types of female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. These hormones stop you getting pregnant by working in three ways: by preventing an egg being released from your ovaries; by making the fluid (mucus) in your cervix thicker, which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb; and by preventing the lining of your womb thickening enough for an egg to grow in it. 

How to use this product

Always take Femodene exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor / Chemist4U pharmacist has told you. Femodene comes in strips of 21 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take Femodene every day for 21 days, at the same time every day.  Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week and follow the direction of the arrows on the strip. 

Take one pill each day, until you have finished all 21 pills.  Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. Do not chew the pill. Then have seven pill-free days. After you have taken all 21 pills in the strip, you have seven days when you take no pills. So, if you take the last pill of one pack on a Friday, you will take the first pill of your next pack on the Saturday of the following week. 

Within a few days of taking the last pill from the strip, you should have a withdrawal bleed. This bleed may not have finished when it is time to start your next strip of pills. You don’t need to use extra contraception during these seven pill-free days as long as you have taken your pills correctly and start the next strip of pills on time. As long as you take Femodene correctly, you will always start each new strip on the same day of the week.

If you’re a new user or starting the contraceptive pill again after a break, it’s best to take your first Femodene pill on the first day of your next period. By starting in this way, you will have contraceptive protection with your first pill. Are you changing to Femodene from another contraceptive pill? If you are currently on a 21-day pill, start Femodene the next day after the end of the previous strip. You will have contraceptive protection with your first pill. You will not have a bleed until after your first strip of Femodene.  

If you are currently on a 28-day pill, start taking Femodene the day after your last active pill. You will have contraceptive protection with your first pill. You will not have a bleed until after your first strip of Femodene. If you’re taking a progestogen-only pill (POP or ‘mini pill’), start Femodene on the first day of bleeding, even if you have already taken the progestogen-only pill for that day. You will have contraceptive cover straight away. 

What are the benefits of the contraceptive pill?

The benefits of taking the contraceptive pill include: 

• One of the most reliable and reversible methods of contraception, if used correctly
• It doesn’t interrupt sex 
• It typically makes periods regular, lighter and less painful
• It may help with premenstrual symptoms

It’s important to note that the contraceptive pill will not protect you again any sexually transmitted infections - only condoms can do this.

How effective is the pill?

When the pill is taken correctly with perfect use, it’s over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Fewer than 1 in 100 women who take the pill as a method of contraception will get pregnant within a year.

No contraception is 100% reliable, and the effectiveness of the pill can lower if you miss a pill, are taking certain antibiotics, or have vomited or had diarrhoea shortly after taking the pill. With typical use, meaning you occasionally miss a pill, your contraception is around 91% effective, with 9 in 100 women becoming pregnant within a year.

When should this product not be used? 

Femodene may be unsuitable for certain people. Do not take this product if you are allergic to any of the ingredients or if you have any of the following:

• If you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) or other organs
• If you know you have a disorder affecting your blood clotting – for instance, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin-III deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antiphospholipid antibodies  
• If you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time
• If you have ever had a heart attack or stroke  
• If you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain and may be a first sign of a heart attack) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA – temporary stroke symptoms)  
• If you have any of the following diseases that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries, such as: severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, a very high level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides), a condition known as hyperhomocysteinemia
• If you have (or have ever had) a type of migraine called ‘migraine with aura’  I
• f you have or have ever had breast cancer  
• If you have ever had a severe liver disease, and you have been told by your doctor that your liver function test results are not yet back to normal  
• If you have ever had liver tumours

Talk to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking this medicine if you have any of the following: 

• Are taking any other medicines
• Have any other medical problems or illnesses

Are there any side effects? 

Like all medicines, Femodene may cause side effects in some people, but these won’t affect everybody. Seek emergency medical attention if you notice any signs of a severe allergic reaction, symptoms of which include swelling of the face and throat, skin rash, breathing difficulties and/or loss of consciousness. There is an increased risk of blood clots in the veins (venous thromboembolism (VTE)) or blood clots in the arteries (arterial thromboembolism (ATE)) for all women using combined hormonal contraceptives. 

Common side effects include: 

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

For more information on potential side effects, refer to the patient information leaflet. If you experience any side effects, including any not included in the patient information leaflet, you can report them using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

Storage information

Store in a cool, dry place out of sight and reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date, referring to the last day of the month stated on the packaging. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.

Important information

This product is a medicine; make sure to speak to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking this product if you have an underlying medical problem or are taking any other medicine or complementary therapy. If your symptoms get worse or continue after taking this product, contact us or your doctor. For medical services in your area, please refer to https://www.nhs.uk

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or our pharmacist before taking this product. If you suffer from any allergies, ask your doctor or our pharmacist if this medicine is right for you.

Store all medicines out of sight and reach of children.

Please read the included leaflet carefully before using this product.

Please contact your GP if appropriate regarding this product.

Helpful Advice on Medication Restrictions & Addiction

For further information on our medication restrictions policy, please click here.

If you are concerned about addiction to 'over the counter' medication, we urge you to visit the below links for professional help and advice:

NHS Help & Advice on Drug Addiction

Talk To Frank - Drug Addiction Help & Support