Regular combined oral contraception pills
Method of use:
- Best to be started on the second day of the period (no later than day 5).
- Stop the pills for 7 days at the end of each pack, restart your pills on day 7 (or day 3 of the following period, whichever comes first).
- Take your pills in the same time every day.
- If you start the pills while you are not getting any periods, you will need to use an additional contraceptive (e.g. condoms) for the first 2 weeks.
It is normal to feel:
- A little nauseous, especially during the first month.
- Your periods will be slightly shorter and lighter than usual.
- Some women complain of Headache, leg swelling and/or breast tenderness.
- These pills reduce the incidence of endometriosis, womb and ovarian tumors. Their effect on Breast malignancy is thought to be that of accelerated growth rather than inducing malignancy.
Follow-up:
- Blood pressure is to be monitored weekly during the first month, then every 3 months for 6 months, then every 6 months.
Combined pills are not to be used in:
- Obese if >40 years old, or severe obesity.
- Age > 45 years.
- Smokers > 35 years.
- Liver diseases.
- Blood clotting diseases.
- Cardiac or vascular diseases.
- Lactation.
- Breast diseases.
- Severe hypertension.
- Chronic migraine.
- Severe varicose veins.
- High risk for breast tumors.
Consult your doctor as soon as possible in the following cases:
- Using other medications while on combined contraceptives (as these
- May have drug interactions with your contraceptive method).
- Continuous headache or migraine.
- Hypertension, Chest, heart, liver or breast diseases.
- Irregular or missed periods.
- Forgetting > 1 pill (as these may have drug interactions with your contraceptive method).
- Vomiting or diarrhea (use male condom backup contraception for the following 2 weeks).
- Before any surgery or long travel or long recumbency in bed for bone fractures or surgeries.
Best Wishes for Health
and Happiness
