Marvelon needs to be taken at the same time each day to make it as effective as possible. You can take it with food if you like, but it isn’t necessary.

You might want to set a reminder or alarm to remember to take Marvelon at the same time each day. Some women find it easy to slot into their routines when they take it first thing in the morning, for example — but that might not be the best option for you.

When you first start taking Marvelon, you should use a back-up birth control method (like condoms or a diaphragm) for the first 7 days, until your body becomes used to Marvelon and it becomes effective.

When you start using Marvelon, you can either take it on the first day of your period and be protected against pregnancy right away; or start on another day of the month, but use condoms for the first seven days of use.

If you’re switching from another pill, you can start Marvelon the day after your last pill in your previous pack.

If you accidentally miss a pill, don’t panic. What you should do next will depend on how far into your monthly pack you are as well as how many pills you’ve missed. When you miss pills, your birth control is less effective at protecting you against pregnancy.

If you miss an active pill, take two at the same time and then go back to taking one a day until your pack is finished.

If you miss two pills in the first or second week, take two pills a day for two days in a row. After those two days, take one pill a day until you finish up your packet. Use condoms or another back-up birth control when you have sex for a week to make sure you’re as protected as possible.

If you miss two pills in the third week, throw away your pack and start a new pack of Marvelon. You should do the same thing if you miss three pills in a row in weeks one, two or three.

Missing pills can impact your cycle, so you might not get your period that month. If you don’t have a period for two months in a row, however, you should take a pregnancy test.

If you experience vomiting or diarrhoea while taking your pill, it could impact how effective it is. This is because your body doesn’t have the opportunity to absorb the pill properly. Just use a back-up contraceptive method like condoms until you’re feeling better.

They’re white, small and circular, and about 6mm across. They’ll have ‘TR5’ imprinted on one side and ‘Organon’ on the other.

Apart from the hormones in them, the other ingredients in Marvelon are:dl-alpha-tocopherol, potato starch, povidone, stearic acid, aerosol and lactose.

When you first start taking Marvelon as your method of birth control, it can take around 7 days for the pill to become effective (unless you take it on day 1 of your period). So when you first start taking Marrvelon, you should use another method of birth control whenever you have sex. This shouldn’t be another hormonal method (like the patch or the ring) because there are specific amounts of hormones in each product that make it safe to use. Using multiple methods and having more hormones in your system can have a harmful impact on your health. Instead, use condoms or a diaphragm whenever you have sex.

No, Marvelon can impact the production and flow of your breastmilk. It could pass over to your baby too. There are other contraceptive options out there that are better for breastfeeding mothers.

If you want to use Marvelon after having a baby, you might have to wait a few weeks before it’s safe to use. You’ll need to be checked over by your doctor, especially as the chances of blood clots after having a baby are high.

Marvelon is known by several other names, including Gedarel 30, Cimizt and Munalea 30. 

The way each of these works in the body is the same, because they contain the same hormones, in the same amounts. The only differences are the way the pills look, and the packaging they come in.

If you take Marvelon and find that you get side effects, or that it doesn’t do a good job at controlling hormonal side effects like heavy periods or acne, there are plenty of alternatives available. Just login, and let the doctor or pharmacist know. They’ll be able to suggest some alternatives.

Some pills contain higher levels of hormones, or a slightly different progesterone and oestrogen balance. Marvelon is pretty much in the middle of this range, for having a median dose of both hormones, so it should give a good level of control over a wide range of hormonal side effects. But every woman is different, so no one pill is the best option for everybody.

There are lots of choices. It really depends on what you want out of a pill. Most combined birth control pills have the same level of protection when taken correctly. The main difference is how well they control other symptoms.

You may be less likely to get heavy periods or breast fullness on pills using a different type of progestogen, like Levest, Microgynon or Rigevidon. But for some women, they might not be as good at controlling acne and be more likely to affect your sex drive than Marvelon.

Women who get migraines or are at a higher risk of blood clots for any reason are normally advised against the combined pill. The progestogen-only pill is safer in these cases.

So really, it’s about finding the right pill for you.

Log in to your EveAdam account and send the clinician a message. Based on the symptoms or side effects you’re having, they’ll be able to suggest a different pill that may suit you better.

Switching from one pill to another is simple with an EveAdam subscription. You can do this any time you want.

Side effects are a potential outcome of using any kind of medication. So whether you use Marvelon or another form of birth control, there is a chance that you’ll experience some kind of side effect as a result.

Some side effects are quite low key, and normally go away after you’ve been using Marvelon for a few weeks, or a couple of months. These side effects should not impact your day to day life, although they can be annoying.

The most common side effects women have found when using Marvelon are: nausea (this might happen when you first start using Marvelon as your body adjusts to the birth control), being sick, experiencing headaches, stomach cramps, feeling bloated, dizziness, vaginal itching, increased discharge, tender or swollen boobs, discharge from your nipples, increased hair growth, loss of scalp hair, changes to your appetite or your weight, changes to your sex drive, acne may get worse (it could improve), spotting in between periods, missed periods.

If you get mild side effects, these can sometimes go away after a few weeks.^[2] But if you find that side effects persist, or cause you discomfort, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist. They’ll normally be able to suggest a different pill that is less likely to have these effects.

If you develop serious side effects, you should go to hospital as soon as possible

Yes, and while it is rare for side effects this serious to occur, it’s important that you know what the signs are, just in case.

If you experience a serious side effect of using Marvelon, you’ll need to go to hospital. You shouldn’t wait to speak to an EveAdam clinician; you need to see a medical professional sooner.

Stop using Marvelon and get medical help if you experience:

• signs of a blood clot - like losing your vision suddenly, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, serious chest pains;
• signs of a stroke - sudden severe headaches, problems with your vision or your balance, slurring of your speech;
• liver problems - losing your appetite, pain in your upper stomach, feeling tired, fever, jaundice (your skin or your eyes yellow);
• heart attack symptoms - pain or pressure in your chest, pain spreading to your jaw or to your shoulder, feeling nauseous, sweating;
• increased blood pressure - severe headaches, pounding in your neck or your ears, blurred vision;
• symptoms of depression - having problems sleeping, feeling weak or tired. Mood changes can happen when you use Marvelon, but you shouldn’t feel depressed.

You should check your breasts regularly, but if you find a lump, you should stop taking Marvelon. Keep an eye on any swelling in your hands, ankles or feet, or any migraines that you experience for the first time.

Stop taking Marvelon if you get an allergic reaction to the birth control. Signs of an allergic reaction include trouble breathing, hives, and swelling in your face, tongue, lips or throat.

If you can’t use Cilique or experience side effects when taking it, there are other combined pill options available. The mini pill or progestin only pill is a method to consider too if you have a condition that means you’re sensitive to oestrogen, or are more at risk of having a blood clot.

Consult with a prescriber through EveAdam to get pill recommendations specific to your medical profile.