Microgynon comes in the form of an oral tablet. You should swallow each pill whole with water.
When to take Microgynon
You should take one Microgynon pill at the same time each day. You may find it easier if you make a routine, for example by taking the pill in the morning or the evening. Using your phone to set alarms or using pill reminder apps may also help.
How often to take Microgynon
You should take your pills as instructed by your doctor.
Microgynon comes in a 21-day pack and a 28-day pack.
If you are prescribed the 21-day pack (Microgynon 30):
- start your pill marked on the correct day of the week
- follow the direction of the arrows on your blister packet strip, taking only one pill per day until you have finished all 21 pills
Once you have finished the 21 days, you then have 7 days where you do not take pills.
Within 1 to 3 days after taking the last pill from your 21-day pack, you should expect bleeding. If you are still bleeding by the time comes to start your next strip, don’t worry – this is normal.
During this break, you will still be protected, as long as you have taken your pills on time and as instructed by your doctor. Always start your new strip on time, on the same day of the week.
If you are prescribed the 28-day pack (Microgynon 30 ED):
Microgynon ED (Every Day) is similar to Microgynon 30, except they contain placebo or ’dummy’ pills that do not contain hormones. The pack contains strips of 28 tablets.
We recommend this pack if you find it difficult to manage the 7-day break without missing pills.
To take Microgynon 30 ED:
- start your pill marked on the correct day of the week
- follow the direction of the arrows on your blister packet strip, taking only one pill per day until you have finished all 28 pills
- as soon as you finish a strip start your next one, taking one pill on the same day as usual
During the last 7 days of your strip, you will be taking dummy pills and should experience a ‘withdrawal bleed’, like a period. You are protected from pregnancy during this period.
If you follow this pattern of taking Microgynon 30 or Microgynon 30 ED, your pill will remain 99% effective.
If you miss a pill, or if you change to a different contraceptive, speak with your doctor and they should advise the best approach. If you are in doubt, consult the patient information leaflet for Microgynon 30 or Microgynon 30 ED.
How long do you need to take Microgynon for
Microgynon 30 should be taken for 21 days with a 7-day break in-between.
Microgynon 30 ED should be taken for 28 days with no 7-day break in between, with dummy pills included in your pack so that you can keep track of your treatment with ease.
Many people take combined oral contraceptives long-term and usually with no issues. If you have any concerns about how long you should take Microgynon for, speak to your doctor and they should be able to give you personalised advice.
What should I do if I forget to take Microgynon?
Microgynon 30
If you forget to take Microgynon 30 and:
- it has been less than 12 hours: Take the delayed pill straight away and the rest of the pills as usual, the effectiveness should not be reduced.
- more than 12 hours ago, or you have missed more than one pill: Take the most recently missed pill right away. Leave earlier missed pills in the strip and take further pills as usual. Use extra contraceptives (such as condoms) for the next 7 days.
- there are 7 or more pills still left in the pack: Use other contraceptives such as condoms for the next 7 days. When you finish the 7 pills, still have a 7-day break before starting your next strip.
- you missed one or more pills from days 1 to 7 of your strip and have had sex in that week: You may not have been effectively protected. Speak to your doctor as soon as possible if you have any concerns – you may need to take emergency contraception.
- there are fewer than 7 pills left in the pack: Use other contraceptives like condoms for the next 7 days. When you finish that strip, start your next strip the next day without a break. If you do not bleed after you have finished the second strip, we recommend doing a pregnancy test before starting the next strip.
Microgynon 30 ED
If you’ve forgotten to take Microgynon 30 ED and:
- it has been less than 12 hours: Take the pill straight away and keep taking your pills at the usual time. Its effectiveness should not be reduced.
- it has been more than 12 hours: Or you have missed more than one active (smaller) pill, the effectiveness will be reduced. Use extra conception (like condoms) for the next 7 days as a precaution. Take the most recently missed active pill, leave earlier pills in the pack and continue to take a pill every day at your usual time for 7 days.
- the 7 pills you have left run beyond the last active (small) tablet: Finish taking the small active tablets, throw away the larger white dummy/inactive tablets, and start a new pack the next day, firstly with the tablet marked ‘start’. You may find that you bleed during the days you take active pills – this is common.
- you do not have a period after the second pack: Speak to your doctor before you start the next one. If you have missed one or more pills from the first week of your strip (days 1-7) and you had sex that week, use a pregnancy test as you may be pregnant.
If you are concerned about how many pills you have missed, contact your doctor. If missing pills is a regular occurrence, it may be best to look into a different type of contraception that you don’t need to take every day.
For more information about missing pills, the patient information leaflet that should come with your medication should give you more guidance on what to do. If you have any specific concerns about missing your pill, speak with your doctor.
