Developed and marketed by Morningside Pharmaceuticals pharmaceutical company, Cimizt is a combined birth control pill that is taken for 21 consecutive days of the monthly menstrual cycle, followed by a seven day long pause. By relying on its active ingredients which successfully mimic the activity of naturally-produced sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen, Cimizt is highly reliable when it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancy. As a branded contraceptive medication, Cimizt is 99% efficient and is commonly prescribed by medical experts throughout the UK.
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How reliable is Cimizt?
As all other branded birth control pills, Cimizt is considered to provide protection against unwanted pregnancy in 99% of cases, provided that it is used properly and according to the instructions provided by the prescriber and/or in the official patient information leaflet. As a combined oral contraceptive, Cimizt pills are considered to be somewhat more effective than the alternative, namely mini-pills or progesterone-only pills. In order to ensure that the level of protection is high as possible, you should take special care to never miss a pill and to take them in the correct sequence of 21 consecutive days, followed by a 7 days break.
Another thing you should do to ensure the maximum efficiency of Cimizt is to avoid (when possible) taking medications and remedies which can impair its function. The substances that you should be aware of include:
- Antiepileptics
- Tuberculosis medications
- HIV or AIDS medications
- Antibiotics
- St John’s wort
- Cyclosporine
How does Cimizt work?
In order for a woman to get pregnant, her body has to undergo through certain preparations and processes which take place in monthly cycles as long as woman is of reproductive age. Most important of these processes is, of course, ovulation, the release of the egg cell from the ovary. Once the egg is released and is transported to the fallopian tubes, it can be fertilised by sperm.
In other words, without ovulation, the conception cannot take place. And this is at the root of the mechanism of action of any oral contraceptive. In the simplest terms, Cimizt works by tricking the body into “thinking” the ovulation already took place so there’s no need to release the egg cell.
This mechanism of action entirely relies on its active ingredients, namely desogestrel (synthetic progesterone) and ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen). Since progesterone is the main hormone directing and timing ovulation, it comes as no surprise that desogestrel is the ingredient of Cimizt that actually prevents ovulation, while ethinylestradiol will contribute to the thickening of the fluid in the cervix, resulting in a greater challenge for sperm when it comes to reaching the egg.
At the same time, this compound will regulate the building up and shedding of the uterine wall, making it more difficult for a fertilised egg to implant. So even if the ovulation does take place, the embryo still cannot begin to develop and the fertilised cell will be excreted with menstrual blood. However, this serves as a kind of a “backup option” since the synthetic progesterone is highly efficient at preventing ovulation by itself. The same mechanism of action, albeit with other active ingredients, is common for all combined birth control pills, including better known Elevin, for example.
Can I buy Cimizt online in the UK?
Yes, Cimizt can be bought online, but regardless of the way you wish to obtain this birth control pill, you need to keep in mind that this is a prescription-only medication and as such, it can be obtained only with a valid prescription issued by a certified medical professional. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t obtain it online! In fact, most online clinics operating in the UK today offer their customers to consult with a doctor online, most commonly through a specialised on-site app or a customised medical questionnaire that should help the doctor get a detailed insight into the patient’s medical profile and history.
With this information, the doctor can make an informed assessment of your condition and your suitability for using Cimizt. If everything checks out, the medication will be sent from the partner pharmacy to the address you provided during the sign up process.
How to take Cimizt?
As mentioned, in order to ensure maximum efficiency of Cimizt, you should follow the instructions provided by your prescriber to the letter. All of those guidelines can also be found in the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Cimizt. In this leaflet, you will find the detailed instructions, full list of documented side effect and just as importantly, information about what should you do if you miss a pill.
Below, we will provide you with some of the most general guidelines for using Cimizt. However, it is very important to note that the text below cannot be used as a substitute for the official information or the doctor’s advice. Instead, what follows is intended to serve an illustrative purpose, helping you get a better idea of what taking Cimizt might involve.
- Always use exactly as instructed
- You should take one tablet per day for 21 days consecutively, followed by a 7 days pause
- Take the pills at the same time each day
- Use the arrows on the strip as a guide to keep track of your progress and to ensure you have not missed any pills
- In the patient information leaflet you will find advice on when to commence treatment and what to do if you miss a dose
- Always take the tablets whole, never chew or break them
- Never exceed or change the dose
What are Cimizt side effects?
As is the case with all prescription medications, Cimizt also comes with a risk of certain side effects. And while not everybody who uses this medication will experience them, it is still recommended to get familiar with them prior to commencing treatment so you can easily differentiate between potentially dangerous side effects that will require you to halt treatment and those side effects which might be uncomfortable, but not really dangerous.
The most serious side effects include allergic reaction and increased risk of a blood clot. So, if you notice any signs and symptoms indicative of these issues, you should contact your doctor or emergency services immediately and ask for advice.
Other documented side effects include:
Frequency of occurrence | Side effects |
Very common (1 in 10 users or more) | Irregular menstrual cycle, weight fluctuations |
Common (1 in 10 users or less) | Reduced menstrual bleeding, breast pain or tenderness, decreased libido, depression, headache, anxiety, migraine, dizziness, general malaise, acne, rash, fluid retention, rise in blood pressure |
Rare (1 in 100 users) | Vaginal candidiasis, impaired hearing, thromboembolism, hypersensitivity, increased libido, intolerance to contact lenses, hair loss, itching, skin disorders, vaginal discharge |
Please keep in mind that this is not a full list of all documented side effects. For a more comprehensive guide, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Cimizt.