Triadene is a hormonal combined contraceptive pill developed and manufactured by Bayer pharmaceutical company within the UK. As a combined birth control treatment, Triadene relies on two active ingredients, synthetic, manmade hormones called gestodene and ethinylestradiol which are biochemical analogues to naturally occurring sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen. Once they are introduced into the female organism, they are highly effective at mimicking the properties of mentioned sex hormones and this is at the root of Triadene’s efficiency at preventing pregnancy. As a triphasic birth control pill, Triadene contains three different levels of hormones in the pills that are taken over the first 21 days of the monthly cycle meaning that the hormone combination will change roughly every 7 days of the treatment.

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How reliable is Triadene?

Triadene is advertised as 99% reliable when it comes to preventing pregnancy. As a combined birth control pill, it is scientifically proven to be somewhat more efficient that progesterone-only mini pills due to an additional level of protection that it provides. As a triphasic contraceptive pill, Triadene is at the same time especially suitable for women who are especially susceptible to experiencing side effects caused by taking birth control pills as it is less likely to cause them while providing the same level of protection.

However, in order to ensure that Triadene really remains 99% effective, you must take this contraceptive pill in line with the instructions provided in the official documentation issued with the medication. This isn’t especially challenging – you simply need to take Triadene in correct order without skipping any pills. In addition to this, it is important to note that there are certain medications, remedies and even foodstuffs that can impair the effectiveness of Triadene. Of course, in certain situation you might not be able to avoid taking them, but in that scenario you should use additional barrier contraception for as long as the efficiency of Triadene is impaired. More information on how long the impairment might last can be found in the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Triadene.

The substances in question include:

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

How does Triadene prevent pregnancy?

As was mentioned, Triadene is a combined hormonal birth control pill and as such, it contains two active ingredients belonging to the class of synthetic hormones. Ethinylestradiol and gestodene which work as manmade analogues to oestrogen and progesterone respectively will work by mimicking the activity of the naturally-occurring sex hormones, thus interfering with various biochemical processes which take place during each monthly cycle in order to prepare the female body for potential pregnancy. In essence, Triadene works by tricking the body into thinking that the relevant processes already took place, so there is no need for them to be triggered yet again. But, let us take a bit deeper look into the issue.

Triadene and progesterone

Progesterone is a hormone that plays a crucial role in preparing the female body for potential conception. Most importantly, it is the compound that triggers ovulation, the release of the egg cell from the ovaries, without which conception cannot take place. Because of this fundamental role, progesterone alone can be used for successful birth control and progesterone-only mini-pills serve to prove that claim. By introducing synthetic versions of progesterone into the female body (gestodene in case of Triadene), contraceptive pills will trick the body into believing that ovulation already took place, so the egg cell won’t be released by the ovaries during the month when oral contraceptives have been (properly) used.

Triadene and oestrogen

As was implied, synthetic oestrogen is not essential for ensuring the efficiency of birth control pills, but it does provide an additional layer of protection. More specifically, oestrogen plays and important role in changing the consistency of vaginal fluids as well as managing the environment by the uterine wall. With synthetic oestrogen (ethinylestradiol in case of Triadene) introduced into the female body, the thickness of the vaginal fluids will increase, making it more difficult for the sperm to navigate through the cervix to the fallopian tubes. And even if this happens and for some reason the egg cell gets released, the changes in the womb will make it much more challenging for the fertilised egg cell to implant into the uterine wall, again, preventing pregnancy.

With this multidimensional approach and multiple layers of protection, combined birth control pills such as Triadene are very reliable and provide an exceptionally high level of protection against unwanted pregnancy.

How to take Triadene?

When taking Triadene, you should always make sure that you are doing so exactly as instructed by your prescriber and in line with the guidelines provided in the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Triadene. By doing so, you will not only ensure maximum levels of protection – as was already discussed – but will also minimise the risk of experiencing side effects. Another thing that you should keep in mind is that Triadene is a triphasic oral contraceptive (like TriRegol, another popular option of the same class), meaning that the pills within one pack come in three different concentrations of active ingredients that should be taken in a correct sequence.

If this sounds a bit frightening – do not worry, in practice the whole process is rather simple. The strips containing the pills are marked with labels and arrows that will help you keep track of your treatment easily. Below we will provide you with some of the most general guidelines you should keep in mind when using Triadene. However, it is important to keep in mind that what follows can never be used as a substitute for the official information or the doctor’s advice.

  • Always take Triadene exactly as instructed and in line with the official guidelines
  • Use the arrows and labels on the strip to keep track of your treatment
  • Take one Triadene pill each day at the same time for a period of three weeks (first 21 days of the monthly cycle)
  • After this, you have to take a week off when you will take no pills
  • After that week, repeat the process for another cycle
  • Make sure that you take the pills in the correct doses – as the concentration of hormones varies for each week, this is crucial
  • In most cases, you should start taking Triadene on the first day of your period
  • If you miss a pill, do not take double dose to compensate – instead consult the patient information leaflet to learn how to proceed

What are Triadene side effects?

As is the case with all prescription medication, Triadene also has a potential of causing certain side effects in women who are especially susceptible to them. Of course, not everybody using this contraceptive pill will experience them, but it is still important to get familiar with them prior to commencing treatment.

Some of the documented side effects include the following:

Common (1 in 10 women) Uncommon (1 in 100 women) Rare (1 in 1000 women)
·       Stomach ache

·       Nausea

·       Weight fluctuations

·       Headaches

·       Mood swings

·       Breast pain

·       Breast tenderness

·       Fluid retention

·       Vomiting

·       Migraines

·       Loss of libido

·       Skin rash

·       Itching

 

·       Eye problems

·       Weight loss

·       Vaginal discharge

·       Breast discharge

·       Skin discolouration

 

 

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 is issued within every pack of Triadene.