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Combined Contraceptive Pill
advice for New
Starters
(RMD 11/04)
The combined contraceptive pill is the most effective contraceptive
treatment there is when taken correctly. It works by stopping your
natural cycle completely and replacing it with an artificial cycle with
a bleed in the pill free week. This is not a real period.
The microgynon and ovranette brands are the safest pills available, with
the longest record of usage. They are so safe that if you don't smoke
and are under 35 years of age, they carry NO extra risk of death than if
you were not taking it. Smoking doubles your risk of death . Some other
pills double or triple your risk of death or serious disease such as
blood clots. There are increased risks of pill use if you have a
personal or family history of blood clots (thrombosis), high blood
pressure, stroke, breast cancer or migraine. The doctor should have
discussed this.
Taking the pill: The pill pack contains an information leaflet. Do not
throw this away it may be needed.
Start taking the pill on the first day of your next period. Note the day
of the week that this is, in your diary. The pill pack is a calendar
pack with each pill marked with the day of the week. Push out the
correct pill for the day you start. Continue around the pack each day
until you have taken every pill. Then stop taking the pill for 1 week.
During this week you may have a vaginal bleed.
Start the next packet on the same day of the week that you started the
first packet. Remember you wrote it in your diary. This is the most
important thing there is to remember. Getting the start date wrong puts
you at the greatest risk of pregnancy.
If you have spotting while taking the pill or don't have a bleed in the
pill free week, then continue with your pill as normal but discuss this
with the doctor when you are able. It is quite common in the first 2-3
cycles after first start the pill.
Missed pills: You should try to take your pill at the same time each
day. Either morning or at night. If you forget but remember within 12
hours then just take the pill late. There is no risk of pregnancy.
HOWEVER if it is more than 12 hours late then it is a missed pill. For a
missed pill you should follow exactly the directions written in each
packet of pills. In that way you will not run any extra risk of
pregnancy. You should also follow the missed pill directions in the pill
packet whenever you have severe diarrhoea or if you vomit within 2 hours
of taking a pill. You should always tell doctors that wish to prescribe
antibiotics that you are on the pill as they may interfere with your
pill.
Other advice: The pill is a very effective contraceptive but you are now
at much greater risk of sexually transmissible disease. Our advice to
you if you are not married is that you always use a condom as well as
the pill to protect you from this.
If you think you are pregnant then do a pregnancy test (kits available
from the chemist) and if positive contact your doctor.
If you are 20 or over then you will need a cervical smear every 3 years.
The South Warwickshire screening service should call for you
automatically but if you have not had a smear within 3 years or never
had a smear and are 20 or over then contact the surgery and make an
appointment with the practice nurse for a cervical smear test.
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 Whitnash
Medical Centre
110 Coppice Road
Whitnash
Warwickshire
CV31 2LT
Tel: 01926 316711
Fax: 01926 427260
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