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Short of not having sex (and who wants that?) the combined pill is one of the most effective contraceptive methods there is. While you’ll need to take it right to get full protection, the instructions are easy to follow and become second nature after a while.
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Yacella contains two hormones, which are very similar to hormones you already have in your body. The “combination” of these makes it a “combined” contraceptive pill. It’s these two hormones that do the work in the body to make pregnancy very unlikely. They do this by adjusting your menstrual cycle slightly. So the usual things that need to happen for you to get pregnant – like ovulation and your uterine wall getting thicker – don’t happen.
The combined pill is a popular choice because it’s completely reversible. You can stop taking it anytime if you decide you want to start a family.
It’s safe. To make sure of it, contraceptive pills like Yacella go through a run of tests before they get released to the public. It’s quite common for the pill to cause some milder side effects when you first start taking it. These normally go away on their own after a short time. But if they stick around, your prescriber can help you. They might be able to tweak your dose or suggest another pill for you.
Kind of, yes. There are four other pills that are ‘bioequivalent‘ (this is a fancy way of saying they have exactly the same hormones in them, in exactly the same amounts). These pills are called Lucette, Yasmin, Dretine and Yiznell. So the pills should work the same, but they look different, come in different packaging, and are priced differently.
There’s also a pill called Eloine. It’s like Yacella, but has slightly less oestrogen hormone in it. So if you get side effects on Yacella like headaches or nausea, you might be better on Eloine.
Yes it is. A combined contraceptive contains two active ingredients, which Yacella does (ethinylestradiol and drospirenone). These are synthetic versions of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
These hormones override the normal menstrual cycle, so your reproductive system doesn’t do the stuff it usually does to ready itself for pregnancy.
Yacella instructions are straightforward and easy to follow. Once you get into the habit of taking it, it becomes second nature.
Each strip of Yacella contains the 21 pills you need to take for each 28-day cycle. Above each pill are the days of the week, which helps you to keep track of what’s been taken.
Take one pill a day for 21 days, at the same time every day.
At the end of the 21 tablets, you should take a seven day break, during which you will likely experience a withdrawal bleed. On the eighth day, start the next strip of 21 pills.
It can be taken with or without food and should be swallowed whole with water.
Yacella side effects are usually mild in nature when they occur and include headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood changes. These often subside as the body gets used to the medication.[1]
But if you have effects that persist or are uncomfortable, let your prescriber know.
Yes - quite a few. Yacella is just one of a number of combined contraceptive pills. Most contain the same oestrogen variant, ethinylestradiol, although sometimes the dosage is lower. Progesterone is more varied, with desogestrel, levonorgestrel and drospirenone among the many different types available.
The closest pills to Yacella (well, the ones that are more or less the same) are Yasmin, Dretine, Lucette and Yiznell.
Eloine is the same as Yacella but a slightly lower dose of oestrogen (so perhaps a go-to for you and your prescriber to discuss if you get mild oestrogenic side effects on Yacella).
But there are lots of other alternatives with a different hormonal makeup if you feel like Yacella isn’t right for you.
Always read the leaflet for the pill before you start using it. You can download a copy of this below, but you can also find one in your pill box.
Tell your prescriber about any existing medical conditions you have during your consultation.
You should avoid using Yacella, or any combined pill, if you have: a history of blood clots, blood clotting disorders, been told to stay off your feet for prolonged periods of time (such as after an operation), had a stroke or heart attack, angina, TIA, damage to the arteries or blood vessels (such as from diabetes), migraines with aura, pancreatitis, liver or kidney disorders or diseases, breast cancer, cancer of the genitals, unexplained bleeding from the vagina or allergies to any of the ingredients in Yacella.
Yacella may also be considered unsuitable for you if you have: psychiatric disorders, a family member with breast cancer, diseases of the gallbladder, depression, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, HUS, sickle cell anaemia, elevated levels of blood fat, have just given birth, inflammation of the veins, varicose veins, epilepsy, lupus, ever had any disease that first appeared in pregnancy, chloasma or a family history of angioedema.
You can read more about the combined pill and medical conditions in our safety info guide.
References
[1] Cooper, D.B. and Mahdy, H. 2020. Oral Contraceptive Pills. Stat Pearls. U.S.A. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882/ [Accessed March 30th 2021].
[2] Mayeda, E.R. Et al. 2014. Weight and Body Composition Changes During Oral Contraceptive Use in Obese and Normal Weight Women. Journal of Women’s Health. U.S.A. NCBI. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3880912/ [Accessed March 30th 2021].
