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They may differ from the information contained in this monograph.
If the instructions on the pack are not understood, ask the doctor or pharmacist for help.
How to take it: Take one tablet daily at about the same time every day. The patient must take Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED every day regardless of how often she has sex. This will also help the patient remember when to take it.
Swallow the tablets whole with a full glass of water. It does not matter if the patient takes it before or after food.
Microgynon 30: Each blister pack is marked with the day of the week. Take the first tablet on the blister pack corresponding to the day of the week.
Follow the direction of the arrows on the blister pack until all 21 active tablets have been taken. During the next 7 days take no tablets. A period should begin during these 7 days (the withdrawal bleed). Usually it will start on 2 to 3 days after the last Microgynon 30 tablet was taken.
Start taking the next pack on the 8th day even if the period continues. This means the patient will always start new packs on the same day of the week, and also that the patient has her withdrawal bleed on about the same days, each month.
Always start a new blister pack on the same day of the week as the previous pack.
Microgynon 30 ED: Each blister pack is marked with the day of the week. Take the first tablet from the red area on the blister pack corresponding to the day of the week.
Follow the direction of the arrows on the blister pack until all the tablets have been taken.
A period should begin 2 to 3 days after starting to take the white inactive tablets (last row) and may not have finished before the next pack is started.
Always start a new blister pack on the same day of the week as the previous pack.
Taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED for the first time: The doctor will advise the patient when to start if she: is taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED after having a baby; has had a miscarriage or an abortion.
If starting Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED after a natural cycle, and have not used a hormonal contraceptive in the past month, start on the first day of the period, i.e. the first day of the menstrual bleeding.
Microgynon 30: Take a tablet marked with that day of the week. For example, if the period starts on Friday, then take a tablet marked Friday. Then follow the days in order. Microgynon 30 will work immediately, it is not necessary to use an additional contraceptive method.
The patient may also start on days 2-5 of the period, but in that case make sure that she also uses additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a cap or diaphragm with spermicide) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Microgynon 30 ED: The patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a cap or diaphragm with spermicide) for the first 14 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Changing from another contraceptive: Changing from a combined oral contraceptive: Start taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED on the day after taking the last active tablet in the previous Pill pack. Bleeding may not occur until the end of the first pack of Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED.
If not sure which were the active/inactive tablets in the previous Pill pack, ask the doctor or pharmacist.
The previous Pill pack may have different colour tablets to those of Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED.
Changing from a vaginal ring: Start taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED on the day of removal of the ring but at the latest when the next application would have been due.
Changing from a progestogen-only pill ('minipill'): Stop taking the minipill on any day and start taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED at the same time the day after the last minipill.
Microgynon 30: The patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a diaphragm) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Microgynon 30 ED: The patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a diaphragm) for the first 14 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Changing from a progestogen-only injection, implant or intrauterine system (IUS): Start taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED when the next injection is due, or on the day that the implant or IUS is removed.
Microgynon 30: The patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a diaphragm) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Microgynon 30 ED: The patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a diaphragm) for the first 14 days of tablet-taking when having intercourse.
Stopping Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED: The patient can stop taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED at any time.
If the patient is considering becoming pregnant, it is recommended that she begins taking a vitamin supplement containing folic acid. It is best that the patient starts taking folic acid tablets before she stops taking Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED and not stop until the doctor advises this. Ask the doctor or pharmacist about suitable supplements. It is both safe and recommended that the patient takes folic acid during pregnancy.
Additional contraceptive precautions: When additional contraceptive precautions are required the patient should either abstain from sex, or use a barrier method of contraception, a cap (or diaphragm) plus spermicide, or a condom. Rhythm methods are not advised as the Pill disrupts the cyclical changes associated with the natural menstrual cycle e.g. changes in temperature and cervical mucus.
If the patient forgets to take Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED: If the patient misses a tablet and takes the missing tablet within 12 hours of missing it, she should still be protected against pregnancy.
If more than 12 hours late, follow these detailed instructions: For Microgynon 30/Microgynon 30 ED to be most effective, beige active tablets need to be taken uninterrupted for 7 days.
If the patient has been taking the beige active tablets for 7 uninterrupted days and misses a beige active tablet, take the missed tablet as soon as remembered, then go back to taking the Pill normally, even if this means taking two tablets in one day, at the same time.
The patient should still be protected against pregnancy.
The chance of pregnancy after missing a beige active tablet depends on when the patient missed the tablet.
There is a higher risk of becoming pregnant if the patient misses a tablet at the beginning or end of a pack.
If the patient has been taking the beige active tablets for less than 7 days and misses a beige active tablet, take the missed tablet as soon as remembered, then go back to taking the Pill normally, even if this means taking two tablets in one day, at the same time. In addition, the patient must also use additional barrier contraceptive precautions (e.g. condoms or a diaphragm) for the next 7 days.
If the patient has had sexual intercourse in the preceding 7 days, there is a possibility of pregnancy and she may need emergency contraception. The patient should discuss this with the doctor or pharmacist.
If the patient forgets to take more than one beige active tablet, seek advice from the doctor or pharmacist about what to do.
If the patient has had sexual intercourse in the week before missing the tablets, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant.
Ask the doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions.
Microgynon 30: If after taking the missed tablet the patient has less than 7 days of beige active tablets left in a row, she should finish the beige active tablets in the pack but do not have a 7 day break.
Start taking the beige active tablets in the next pack corresponding to the correct day of the week straight away.
This is the best way to maintain contraceptive protection. However, the patient may not have a period until the end of the beige active tablets of the second pack. The patient may have spotting or breakthrough bleeding on tablet-taking days.
See Table 1.
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageMicrogynon 30 ED: If after taking the missed tablet the patient has less than 7 days of beige active tablets left in a row, she should finish the active tablets in the pack but skip the white inactive tablets.
Start taking the beige active tablets in the next pack corresponding to the correct day of the week.
This is the best way to maintain contraceptive protection. However, the patient may not have a period until the end of the beige active tablets of the second pack. The patient may have spotting or breakthrough bleeding on tablet-taking days.
If the patient misses a large white inactive tablet, she does not need to take them later because they do not contain any active ingredients. However, it is important that the patient discards the missed white tablet(s) to make sure that the number of days between taking active tablets is not increased as this would increase the risk of pregnancy. Continue with the next tablet at the usual time.
See Table 2.
Click on icon to see table/diagram/image