Marvelon/Marvelon 28 Mechanism of Action

Marvelon/Marvelon 28 is a combined oral contraceptive ('the combined Pill'). Each tablet (Marvelon) or large tablet (Marvelon 28) contains a small amount of two different female hormones. These are desogestrel (a progestogen) and ethinylestradiol (an estrogen). The small tablets do not contain hormones and are called placebo tablets (for Marvelon 28 only). Because of the small amounts of hormones, Marvelon/Marvelon 28 is considered a low-dose oral contraceptive. As all active tablets in the pack combine the same hormones in the same dose, it is considered a monophasic combined oral contraceptive.
The combined Pill may also have non-contraceptive health benefits.
The period may be lighter and shorter. As a result, the risk of anaemia may be lower. The period pains may become less severe or may completely disappear.
In addition, some serious disorders have been reported to occur less frequently in users of Pills containing 50 μg of ethinylestradiol ('high-dose Pills'). These are benign breast disease, ovarian cysts, pelvic infections (pelvic inflammatory disease or PID), ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside of the uterus) and cancer of the endometrium (lining of the womb) and ovaries. This may also be the case for low-dose Pills but this has not been confirmed.