During the menstrual cycle, an ovary releases an egg due to hormonal changes, which may be fertilised by male sperm. This is what’s known as ovulation.

As ovulation approaches, the body produces greater quantities of oestrogen, which thickens the lining of the uterus, creating ideal conditions for a fertilised egg to implant itself there.

Ovranette contains two types of female sex hormones, an oestrogen and a progestogen, which stop an egg from being released from the ovaries, and so prevent pregnancy.

These hormones also thicken the mucus in the cervix, making it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg, and harder for a fertilised egg to fix itself to the wall of the uterus.

Ovranette, if used right, is more than 99% effective.

If taken as instructed, only 1 in 100 women will get pregnant over a 12 month period.

But if you make mistakes using it or miss a pill here and there, your pregnancy risk is higher.

You take it for 21 days in a row, and then stop for 7 days.

It’s a 28 day cycle: you take one tablet for 21 days daily, followed by 7 days off. You should take your first pill on the first day of your period, as this gives you immediate protection.

If you take your first pill on any other day, use additional contraception, such as a condom, until you have taken it for 7 days.

Take the pill at the same time every day.

Having stopped taking the pill, you may have some withdrawal bleeding within the 7 day pill-free window. This is normal and nothing to worry about.

If you miss a pill within 12 hours of when you usually take it, take it straight away, and any further pills as normal. This could mean taking two pills in one day. Your level of protection shouldn’t change.

If you miss a pill, or more than one pill, more than 12 hours since your last one, take the one you missed most recently immediately. You should leave any earlier pills in the strip. Take any further pills as usual. This may mean using two pills in one day.

The combined pill may have side effects.

If you experience any serious or unusual side effects, consult your doctor.

It’s important to read the leaflet that comes with Ovranette before you use it. This contains more information on what to do if you get side effects. You can view and download at the link below.

Ovranette 150/30mcg

Serious side effects include: a blood clot, heart attack, stroke, an allergic reaction (swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat), breast cancer, cancer of the cervix, severe liver problems.

Very common side effects (more than 1 in 10 women):

Headaches, including migraines (if severe or unusual or long lasting, see a doctor as soon as you can), breakthrough bleeding or spotting.

Common (up to 1 in 10 women):

Infections of the vagina (including thrush), feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting), stomach pain or cramps, changes in weight, change in mood (including depression or low mood), dizziness, nervousness, change in sex drive, acne, sore, painful or tender breasts, changes in the secretion from the breast, enlargement of breasts.

Uncommon (up to 1 in 100 women):

Diarrhoea, changes in appetite, change in menstrual flow, rash, brown patches on your face or body (chloasma), hives (urticaria), fluid retention resulting in swollen ankles, hands or feet, increase in blood pressure, changes in the fat levels in your blood (for example, high triglyceride levels).

Rare (up to 1 in 1000 women):

Change in glucose tolerance, contact lenses may feel uncomfortable, painful red lumps on skin (erythema nodosum), pink-red blotches on skin (erythema multiforme), period pain (dysmenorrhea), lack/absence of periods (amenorrhea), vaginal discharge.

Very rare (up to 1 in 10,000 women):

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), new gallbladder disease and worsening of existing gallbladder disease, worsening of chorea (a nerve disease causing sudden movements of the body), worsening of systemic lupus erythematosus, problems at the back of your eye which may cause partial or complete loss of vision (retinal vein thrombosis), worsening of porphyria (a rare disease of the blood pigments), liver tumour.

Ovranette is not suitable for everyone.

You should not take Ovranette if any of the following apply to you: if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are breast-feeding; if you have cancer affected by sex hormones – such as some cancers of the breast or ovary; if you have vaginal bleeding that has not been explained by your doctor; if you or anyone in your close family has ever had a problem with their blood circulation (including a blood clot (thrombosis) in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), heart (heart attack), brain (stroke) or any other parts of the body; if you have very high or uncontrolled blood pressure; if you have any condition which makes you more at risk of a blood clot (thrombosis – see section 2.1, The Pill and blood clots); if you have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) or a heart valve disorder; if you have migraine with visual disturbances; if you have diabetes which has affected your circulation; if you are 35 years old or over and smoke 15 or more cigarettes per day; if you have the disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); if you have ever had liver tumours or severe liver disease and been told by your doctor that your liver function tests are not yet back to normal; if you’re allergic (hypersensitive) to the active substances, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.

See your doctor as soon as possible if: you develop a migraine for the first time or suffer worsening of existing migraine or headaches; you experience any sudden unexplained changes in your vision; you have symptoms such as unusual pains in or swelling of the legs, stabbing pains on breathing, persistent cough or coughing blood, pain or tightness in the chest; significant rise in blood pressure; you develop jaundice (yellowing of skin and/or white of eyes).

For any further information about Ovranette, see the patient information leaflet provided.