Levest: Buying combined oral contraceptives online in the UK

Levest is a combined birth control pill that is based on synthetic version of sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen, namely ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel, as active ingredients. As a 21-day pill, Levest is intended to be taken daily over the period of three weeks after which there should be one week when no pills are taken. Developed and marketed by Morningside pharmaceuticals, this branded medication is advertised as 99% effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies and is considered to be rather safe and reliable among both the doctors and the women using it.

What’s on this page?

How reliable is Levest?

As mentioned, Levest is advertised as 99% efficient in preventing unwanted pregnancy, just like a majority of other birth control pills. However, as a combined contraceptive pill, it is somewhat more reliable than the alternative comprising of progesterone-only mini-pills. When used properly, it should, for all intends and purposes, completely eliminate risk of unwanted pregnancy, but 100% protection cannot be advertised due to risk of certain unforeseen circumstances or maybe unidentified conditions which can potentially impair the function of Levest contraceptive pills.

However, there are also a number of identified medications and remedies which can adversely affect the efficiency of these birth control pills. So, in order to ensure maximum level of protection, you should pay special attention and if you have to take any of the following, be sure to use barrier contraception in case Levest efficiency has been compromised:

• Epilepsy medications
• Barbiturates
• HIV or AIDS treatments
• Antibiotics
• Antifungal medications
• St John’s wort

How does Levest work?

Just like other birth control pills, Levest relies on synthetic, man-made versions of naturally-occurring sex hormones, progesterone and oestrogen. The active ingredients of Levest, ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel, will effectively mimic the natural hormones and via that mechanism of action, they will interfere with the natural processes related to menstrual cycle, but also to various preparations for pregnancy that female body goes through during every cycle, regardless of whether conception will actually take place. However, the aforementioned sex hormones play different roles in the female body and as such, the compounds mimicking them will act to decrease the chances of unwanted pregnancy in different ways.

Naturally occurring progesterone is absolutely crucial in timing and triggering ovulation, the process during which an egg cell is released by the ovaries to the fallopian tubes where it can get fertilised by sperm. If the conception takes place, the fertilised egg cell will travel to the womb and implant into the uterine wall where it will continue to develop. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that synthetic progesterone acts by tricking the body into wrongly detecting that the ovulation had already taken place, thus preventing the ovaries from releasing egg cells.

On the other hand, synthetic oestrogen will provide additional protection in case the primary one, stemming from synthetic progesterone. It will contribute to the thickening of the cervical fluids and changes in the conditions alongside the uterine wall. These processes will help prevent unwanted pregnancy in different way – the change in consistency of cervical fluids will make it harder for the sperm to reach the egg cell and the changes in the uterus will make it less likely for the fertilised egg cell to implant.

Can I buy Levest online in the UK?

Yes, it is possible to buy Levest birth control pills online. However, you should keep in mind that in the UK, contraceptive pills are prescription-only medications. As such, they can be obtained only with a valid prescription issued by a certified medical professional. However, this is no obstacle to buying Levest online. Thanks to numerous online clinics legally operating in the UK, you can easily consult with a doctor without leaving the comfort of your home.

After choosing the online clinic of your choice, you can use the functionality of the website to contact the doctor. Most commonly, you will be presented with a detailed and customised medical questionnaire that you will be asked to fill in. The doctor employed at the online clinic will use the information obtained that way to get a detailed insight into your medical condition and profile which will allow him to make an informed decision regarding your suitability for using Levest contraceptive pills.

If everything checks out, the prescription will be issued and used that very same moment to have the birth control pills delivered from the partner pharmacy to the address you provided. The other possibility is that the doctor might recommend you some alternative treatment which is more suitable for you. Popular and safe pills such as Lizinna are a rather common doctor’s choice.

How is Levest used?

In order to ensure maximum efficiency of Levest while at the same time decreasing the risk of experiencing side effects, you should always precisely follow the instructions provided by your prescriber. And if there are any new unforeseen circumstances or you simply need a quick recap, your most reliable source of information will be the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Levest.

Below, we will present you with a short overview of some of the most general guidelines you should keep in mind when taking Levest. However, it is important to note that what follows can never be used as a substitute for doctor’s instructions or the official information. Instead, the list below is here just for illustrative purposes, so you can get a better idea of what taking Levest might involve.

• Always use exactly as instructed and in line with the information provided in the patient information leaflet
• You should take one tablet daily, at the same time each day for the first 21 days of your menstrual cycle
• After you finish the pack, do not take Levest for the next seven days
• Start taking a new pack after that pause and repeat the whole process
• Never change your dose
• Use arrows and other marks on the strips to keep track of the treatment and ensure you have not skipped a pill
• If you missed a pill, please refer to the information leaflet about how to proceed and when will protection offered by Levest be return to usual levels

What are Levest side effects?

Please keep in mind that this is not a complete list of all documented side effects. For a more comprehensive overview, refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Levest.