Hana Contraceptive Pill

Buy Hana daily contraceptive pill

Hana is a daily contraceptive pill. When used correctly, it's over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

It contains a synthetic hormone called desogestrel, which is a type of progestogen. Because it only contains one hormone (progestogen) rather than two, it's known as a progestogen-only pill, or POP. You might also hear it called the mini pill.

Unlike the combined contraceptive pill, Hana doesn't contain oestrogen, which means it can be a good option for people who can't or don't want to take oestrogen.

What is in Hana?

Hana contains one active ingredient: desogestrel 75mcg. Desogestrel is a synthetic version of progestogen, which means it works like the natural progesterone your body already produces.

Each tablet also contains inactive ingredients that help hold the pill together and keep it stable. If you have an intolerance to lactose, speak to your prescriber before taking Hana.

How does Hana work?

Hana works in two main ways to prevent pregnancy.

Its primary job is to stop ovulation, which is the release of an egg each month. No egg means there's nothing for sperm to fertilise, so pregnancy can't happen.

It also thickens the mucus at the entrance to the womb (cervix), making it much harder for sperm to get through.

How long does Hana take to work?

How long Hana takes to work depends on when you start taking it. 

If you're not currently using hormonal contraception (or haven't used any in the past month, like the pill, vaginal ring, skin patch, injection, implant, or hormone-containing coil):

• Wait for your period to begin, as it's best to take your first tablet on day one. When you do this, you're protected straight away and don't need extra contraception.
• If you take your first tablet on days two to five of your period, you'll need to use extra contraception (like condoms) for the first two days.

If you're switching from another hormonal contraceptive, a healthcare professional can advise you on the best time to make the switch and help you work out the timing that's right for your situation.

If you start at any other time in your cycle (not during your period), you'll need to use additional contraception for the first two days.

Find out more about how long birth control takes to work with our guide.

How effective is Hana?

When taken correctly, Hana is over 99% effective, meaning fewer than one in 100 people will get pregnant within a year of use.

In practice, with typical use (which accounts for occasional missed or late pills), effectiveness is slightly lower at 91%. Taking your pill at the same time each day is the best way to keep it working as well as possible.

How to take Hana daily contraceptive pill

Hana won't prevent pregnancy unless it’s taken exactly as directed, so it's important to get into a good routine.

• Take one tablet at the same time every day, without a break between packs. Choose a convenient time that works for you and try to link it to something you already do at the same time every day, like when you wake up or brush your teeth.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a little water. You can take it with or without food. If you feel sick after taking it, taking it with food or before bed can help.
• Never skip your daily tablet. Take it every day, even when you bleed or have spotting. This is completely normal.
• Follow the pack correctly. Each Hana pack contains 28 tablets with the days of the week printed on it, and arrows show the order to take them. When you start a new pack, take the tablet labelled with the correct day. For example, if you start on a Wednesday, take the tablet marked “Wed”. Don't just start with any tablet.
• Keep going without a break. Continue taking one tablet a day until the pack is empty, following the arrows. Then start your new pack the very next day, without a break and without waiting for a bleed.
• The days printed on each strip help you keep track and make sure you don't miss any.

What to do if you miss a dose

Forgotten to take Hana? Don't panic. What you do next depends on how late you are.

If you're less than 12 hours late, take your missed pill straight away and carry on with the rest of your pack as normal. You're still protected against pregnancy.

If you're more than 12 hours late, take the most recent pill you missed straight away and leave any earlier missed pills in the strip. Then carry on with your pack as usual. You'll need to use extra contraception like condoms for the next seven days.

Missing pills at any point in your cycle can make Hana less effective. If you've missed one or more pills in your first week of taking it and had sex in the week before, your risk of getting pregnant is higher.

If you vomit within three to four hours of taking Hana, it should be treated as a missed pill. But if you have severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, Hana might not have been fully absorbed, and it may not be as effective.

You'll need to use extra contraception like condoms for the duration of the illness and for the first seven days of normal pill-taking afterwards. If you're not sure what to do, speak to your prescriber for advice.

Hana side effects

Common side effects of Hana may include (affecting up to one in 10 people):

• altered mood
• depressed mood
• headaches
• nausea
• acne
• decreased sex drive (libido)
• irregular or no periods
• breast pain
• increased body weight

It's common to notice changes to your periods while you're taking Hana. You don't need to do anything differently. Just keep taking Hana exactly as directed, even if these changes start to happen.

Your periods might become irregular, more frequent, less frequent, shorter, longer, lighter, or heavier. You might also notice some spotting or bleeding between periods. Some people also find their periods stop altogether while they're on Hana.

It’s also important to note that while blood clots are rare, people taking hormonal contraceptive pills do have a slightly increased risk.

Symptoms to look out for include swelling, redness or pain in the leg, chest pain, breathlessness, and coughing up blood. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice these or go to A&E.

When not to use Hana 

Don't take Hana if:

• you're allergic to desogestrel or any of the other ingredients in Hana
• you have cancer that's affected by sex-steroid hormones, like certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer
• you have a blood clot in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• you have, or have had, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) or severe liver disease, or if blood tests show your liver hasn't returned to normal
• you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding between your periods, or if you keep bleeding after sex
• you're pregnant or think you might be pregnant

Hana tablets and other medication

Always let your prescriber know if you're taking any other medicines, have recently taken any, or might be taking any in the future. This includes medicines you can buy without a prescription and herbal remedies.

Some medicines and herbal remedies can cause unexpected bleeding or make Hana less effective. These include treatments for:

• epilepsy (like primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, topiramate, phenobarbital)
• tuberculosis (like rifampicin, rifabutin)
• HIV infections (like efavirenz)
• pulmonary arterial hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (bosentan)
• depression (the herbal remedy St. John's Wort)
• fungal infections (like griseofulvin)

If you're using any of these for short-term treatment, you can carry on taking Hana, but you'll also need to use extra contraception like condoms every time you have sex during treatment and for 28 days after your last dose.

Hana and breastfeeding

You can use Hana while you're breastfeeding.

The active ingredient in Hana, desogestrel, doesn't appear to affect the production or quality of your breast milk.

That said, there have been some infrequent reports of a decrease in breast milk production in people using desogestrel, and a small amount of it does pass into the milk.

How to store Hana

Keep Hana out of the sight and reach of children. Don't use Hana after the expiry date shown on the carton label and blister foil. The expiry date is the last day of that month.

Don't store it above 30°C and make sure you use it within three months of first opening the sachet.

The active substance in Hana can be harmful to fish, so please don't throw any medicines away via wastewater or household waste.

Alternatives to Hana 

There are plenty of other mini pill alternatives to Hana, including:

• Cerazette (desogestrel)
• Cerelle (desogestrel)
• desogestrel
• Desomono (desogestrel)
• Desorex (desogestrel)
• Lovima (desogestrel)
• Norgeston (levonorgestrel)
• Noriday (norethisterone)
• Slynd (drospirenone)
• Zelleta (desogestrel)

Frequently asked questions about Hana

Is Hana the same as Cerelle?

Hana and Cerelle both contain the same active ingredient, desogestrel, at the same dose of 75 micrograms.

The difference is just the brand name. If you've been taking Cerelle and switched to Hana, or vice versa, you don't need to worry. You can carry on taking it in exactly the same way.

Do you get a period with Hana?

It varies from person to person. Some people find their periods become lighter or more irregular, while others stop having them altogether. It's also common to experience some spotting or bleeding between periods, especially in the first few months.

If you’re unsure or worried, always speak to your prescriber for advice.

Will I gain weight with Hana?

Potentially, as weight gain is a common side effect of Hana, meaning it can affect up to one in 10 people. That said, everyone's experience is different and not everyone will notice a change.

Can you take emergency contraception with Hana?

If you're taking Hana correctly and haven't missed any pills, you're already protected against pregnancy and won't need emergency contraception.

However, if you've missed pills or are unsure whether you're fully protected, it's best to speak to your pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible so they can advise you on the right next steps.

Sources

• Patient Information Leaflet. MHRA. [Accessed 24th March 2026].
• How Well Contraception Works at Preventing Pregnancy. (2024). NHS. [Accessed 24th March 2026].