Hormonal methods - Oral options (pills)

Combined pill -

Made with oestrogen and progesterone. Taken for 21 days then 7 day break (to have period)

Combined pill is __% effective if taken correctly at same time each day

99

Combined pill can…

lighten or stop periods

Combined pill doesn’t…

interrupt sex

Combined pill can protect against…

some cancers of womb and ovaries

Combined pill can have side effects like…

mood swings, weight gain and headaches

Combined pill isn’t effective if…

women vomits or has severe diarrhoea

Progesterone only pill (POP/mini pill) -

Made with progesterone only hormone. Its taken every day within 3hr window.

The POP works by…

thickening the mucus in the cervix to stop sperm

The POP is __% effective

99

The POP doesn’t…

interrupt sex

The POP can be used…

immediately after birth

The POP doesn’t protect against

STIs

The POP isn’t effective if woman…

vomits, has severe diarrhoea or takes medicine

The POP can have side effects such as…

spot prone skin, tender breasts and irregular periods

Emergency contraceptive pill ISN’T a method of contraception as its used…

after unprotected sex

There are _ types of the emergency contraceptive pill

2

Type 1 of emergency contraceptive pill -

Levonelle

Type 2 of emergency contraceptive pill -

EllaOne

The Levonelle pill must be taken within…

72 hours of having sex

The Levonelle pill is at best…

in the first 24 hours

The Levonelle pill is __% effective then becomes less effective

95

The EllaOne pill must be taken within…

120 hours of having sex

The EllaOne pill is __% effective

98

The emergency contraceptive pill is available free of charge from…

a GP, walk in centre or in a pharmacy (if 16+ years)

The emergnecy contracpetive pill doesn’t…

protect against STIs

The emergency contraceptive pill can have side effects such as…

sickness, diarrhoea or stomach cramps