Femodene is a combined birth control pill, an oral contraceptive developed and marketed by Bayer, established pharmaceutical company. Within the UK, it can be obtained in two versions – Femodene Standard and Femodene ED. The difference between the two is that the standard pack contains 21 pills which are taken once daily for three weeks before a seven day long pause when no pills are taken. On the other hand, Femodene ED contains 7 inactive pills which are taken during the final week of the monthly cycle. This branded medication is advertised as 99% reliable and is commonly prescribed throughout the UK.
What’s on this page?
How reliable is Femodene?
As all other branded birth control pills, Femodene 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, Femodene 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 in case of standard pack or to take the pills in the correct order and not confuse active and inactive ones in the case of Femodene ED.
Another thing you should do to ensure the maximum efficiency of Femodene is to avoid (when possible) taking medications and remedies which can impair its function. If you cannot avoid them, then make sure to use a barrier contraceptive during the month you were taking the compounds that are interfering with the efficiency of Femodene. The substances that you should be aware of include:
- Antiepileptics
- Tuberculosis medications
- HIV or AIDS medications
- Antibiotics
- St John’s wort
- Cyclosporine
How Femodene works?
Similarly to other contraceptive pills, Femodene acts by interfering with the natural fluctuations in the levels of sex hormones which in turn play a crucial role in controlling when and if the ovulation will occur. Without any contraceptive pills, one egg cell will be released every month. After this, the egg will be delivered into the fallopian tube where it can be fertilised by sperm.
However, when contraceptive pills such as Femodene are used, the synthetic version of progesterone will emulate the activity of naturally-occurring hormone, thus preventing the production of an egg. At the same time, Femodene will contribute to thickening of the natural mucus found in the vagina which will in turn make it harder for sperm to reach the fallopian tube thanks to synthetic oestrogen and its impact on the female body. Femodene shares its mechanism of action, but also its active ingredients with another commonly prescribed oral contraceptive, Femodette.
Is Femodene right for me?
Choosing the right contraceptive pill is not an easy task and it is something that can be properly done only with a help of a medical professional familiar with your medical history and profile. The most suitable option available on the market is always chosen in line with the doctor’s advice. The same is true for Femodene. In order to confirm whether this is the right choice for you, you will have to talk to your doctor and provide him with all the relevant info.
Can I buy Femodene online in the UK?
Yes, it is possible to buy Femodene online in the UK. While contraceptive pills might have been a bit of a taboo once, today they are a part of regular offer of numerous online clinics and pharmacies operating within the UK, so buying them online is easier and safer than ever before! However, you should keep in mind that just like all other contraceptive pills, Femodene too is a prescription-only medicine and as such, it can be obtained only with a valid prescription issued by a certified medical professional. Luckily, this is no obstacle to getting Femodene online.
However, what this means is that prior to confirming your order, the doctor employed at the online clinic of your choice will ask you to fill in a customised and detailed medical questionnaire that will then be used to assess your suitability for using this contraceptive pill. If the doctor determines you are suitable for using this medication, the prescription will be issued and used that very same moment to have the medication sent from the partner pharmacy to the address you provided during the process.
How to take Femodene?
Here we will provide you with some of the most general guidelines related to the use of Femodene. It is important to note that the points below are intended to serve an illustrative purpose and help you get a better understanding of what taking Femodene might involve. As such, the text that follows can never be used as a substitute for the doctor’s advice or the official information that you can find within official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of the medicine.
- Make sure you are not pregnant before commencing treatment
- Use the arrows and indicators on the strip to keep track of your progress
- Take the pills in line with the form that was prescribed for you – either for 21 days followed by 7 days without pills or for during the whole cycle, with inactive pills being taken during the third week
- Always take tablets with water, never chew or break them
- If you miss a pill, do not try to compensate, instead refer to the information leaflet to find out how you should proceed
What are Femodene side effects?
As is the case with all prescription medications, Femodene also comes with certain side effects which might affect women who are especially susceptible to them. The side effects that you should be most aware of are any signs and symptoms that might be indicative of an allergic reaction or a blood clot. If you notice any of these, you will have to halt treatment and contact your doctor or local emergency service for advice.
Other documented side effects can be uncomfortable, but for the most part are not considered to be dangerous. They include:
Frequency of occurrence | Side effects |
Common (1 in 10 women) | Weight fluctuations, headaches, stomach pain, nausea, sore breasts, mood swings |
Uncommon (1 in 100 women) | Skin irritations, migraines, loss of libido, retention of fluids, swelling of the breasts |
Rare (1 in 1000 women) | Intolerance of contact lenses, weight loss, increase in libido, vaginal or breast discharge |
Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list of all documented side effects. For a more comprehensive overview, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Femodene.