The instructions for Rigevidon are easy to follow and should become second nature after a while. Each strip of Rigevidon pills is marked with the days of the week to ensure that you can keep track of what you have taken. You should take Rigevidon at the same time each day to get the full protection the treatment offers.

There are 21 pills in each pack. You’ll take these, one a day, then have a seven day break, and move on to the next pack.

Each tablet should be swallowed whole, preferably with water, and it’s recommended that you take it alongside something you do at the same time every day, such as just before bed or with breakfast.

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

If you have not taken a hormonal contraceptive the day before, you should start the course on the first day of bleeding on your period, also known as the first day of your cycle. This will then provide you with full protection against pregnancy, immediately.

Starting Rigevidon on any other day of your cycle will require you to use a barrier contraceptive for seven days. At the end of the strip of 21 pills, you’ll then take a seven day break before starting the next month’s cycle.

If you have taken a different combined contraceptive up until the first day of switching to Rigevidon tablets, you should start and complete the strip of 21 pills and then take the seven day break, even if this means extending the time without the seven day break. You can then carry on taking Rigevidon as instructed.

If you have taken the mini pill the previous day, you can start the new strip of Rigevidon immediately, but also use a barrier contraceptive for seven days after you switch. Complete the 21-day course of Rigevidon and take the seven day break and then take as instructed for the following month.

It can be a stressful moment when you realise you have forgotten to take your pill, but try not to panic.

It’s ideal to take Rigevidon at the same time each day, but Rigevidon can be taken up to 12 hours after its scheduled time and you will still be more than 99% protected against pregnancy.

After 12 hours, it counts as a missed pill, and you will need to take extra contraceptive measures, such as using a condom for seven days.

Take your most recent forgotten pill as soon as you remember, and then the next one at the normal time, even if it means taking two pills on the same day. If your Rigevidon missed pill is towards the end of your cycle, you may be advised to skip your seven day break and start your next strip right after your current one. Check the leaflet that comes with your pill for more info.

The licensed way to take it is with the seven day break every month. But you can take Rigevidon back to back. It’s called stacking. There are benefits to taking the pill like this. Firstly, it’s easier to take the pill every day (because you don’t have to be mindful of a break) so it edges you closer to ‘perfect use’. It can also stop you from having a period (withdrawal bleed) each month, which some women prefer.

But it’s not recommended that you do this without consulting a clinician first.

You can stop taking Rigevidon any time if you decide you want to start trying for a baby. If you’re trying to become pregnant, however, it’s recommended that you wait for a month after coming off the pill for your natural cycle to start again (a new period) before actively trying to conceive.

If you need to remain protected against pregnancy after finishing Rigevidon, you will need to use another contraceptive. Instructions for swapping your oral contraceptive can be found in the leaflet that comes with your new treatment. You should also speak with your prescribing clinician if you’re thinking of swapping your contraceptive pill.

Mild side effects are fairly common when you first start using the pill or switch to a new one. A lot of the time these go away on their own after a couple of months of use. But if these are a nuisance or persist, let your prescriber know and they’ll be able to discuss switching to a new pill with you.

Common Rigevidon pill side effects occur in up to one in ten patients and include: headaches, changes in mood, nausea and irregular bleeding.

For the most part, the combined pill is well tolerated, with very few minimal issues or none at all presenting for most that use it.

Some patients have reported weight gain as a side effect from taking the pill. So can Rigevidon cause weight gain? There is, in fact, little evidence to suggest that it does, although water retention might play a part. There are so many other factors involved in weight that it’s hard to narrow it down to just being a result of the pill.

If you’re concerned about your weight fluctuating when taking the pill, let your prescriber know.

Serious side effects with Rigevidon pill are rare, but it’s important to know the risks involved and what to look for in case they do.

Get medical help right away if you get any signs listed below.

• Deep vein thrombosis: swollen legs or foot, a warm feeling in the leg and a change in the colour of skin in the area affected.
• Pulmonary embolism: loss of breath, coughing up blood, chest pain, light headedness, stomach pain and rapid heartbeat.
• Retinal vein thrombosis: loss of vision and eye spain.
• Heart attack: pain in the chest, a squeezing feeling along the arm and chest, indigestion, choking, pain across the jaw, back, arm and stomach, weakness, anxiety, sweating vomiting, nausea, sweating and altered heartbeat.
• Stroke: weakness or numbness on one side of the body and face, being unable to speak, confusion, loss of vision, loss of coordination, dizziness, headaches and seizures.
• Blood clots elsewhere: swelling in the fingers or toes, changes of colour in the fingers and toes and severe stomach pain.

Refer to the leaflet for more detailed guidance on serious side effects.

Read more information on side effects and the combined pill.

Any changes in hormones, naturally occurring or from use of medications, can lead to altered mood. Again, these symptoms may dissipate once your body has had a chance to adjust to the pill, but if you notice any signs of depression or mood swings are severe or persistent, talk to your clinician.

There are quite a few combined contraceptive pills to choose from, some with exactly the same dosages and active ingredients, others with lower dosages and others still with very different active ingredients.

Levest, Microgynon, Elevin, Maexeni and Ovranette are all the same chemically as Rigevidon. So it’s quite a common formulation of pill.

But it’s slightly different to other pills.

For example, the main difference between the Lucette pill and Rigevidon is the type of progesterone in the pill. For some women, this might be more (or less) suitable in helping to control menstrual symptoms.

Gedarel 30 and Rigevidon are really similar too, only the progesterone ingredient is a little different.

The active ingredients are exactly the same and at the same dosage. So are Microgynon and Rigevidon the same medications? Chemically, yes they are. The only difference is branding and price, with Microgynon being slightly more expensive.

There are non-pill alternatives to Rigevidon. The contraceptive patch is one option. Rather than having to take a pill every day, with the patch you just replace it once a week.

The contraceptive ring is another type that works in a similar way. This is replaced at the start of every menstrual cycle.

These forms both contain ‘combined’ hormones, so have the same effect as the combined pill.

If you think the pill isn’t for you, you can login and consult with your prescriber to get suggestions on what might be better.