The contraceptive pill protects against pregnancy. There are two main types of pill which vary in the hormones they contain and the way they work. The most widely used are the combined pills which have two hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. There are also progestogen-only pills which have no oestrogen. A woman gets pregnant when a man’s sperm meets one of her eggs. To prevent pregnancy, the contraceptive pill keeps the sperm and egg apart by stopping ovulation, by making it harder for sperm to get to an egg and/or by making it harder for a fertilised egg to implant in the lining of the womb. To take them, you swallow one tablet at roughly the same time each day with a glass of water.

Every woman reacts differently to each pill. Your doctor will assist you in choosing a suitable pill. It is not uncommon for women to have to try more than one pill before they find one which works well for them.

The combined contraceptive pill is usually just referred to as ‘the pill’. It contains two artificial forms of the natural sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. There are different brands of the combined oral contraceptive pill. They all do the same thing but contain different amounts and types of oestrogen and progesterone.

The progestogen-only pill is also referred to as the “mini-pill”. The main action of progestogen-only pills is to thicken the mucus in the neck of the womb making it difficult for sperm to reach an egg. The progestogen-only pill also sometimes stops your ovaries from releasing an egg. The mini-pill does not contain oestrogen and can be prescribed for women who should not take oestrogen.

The contraceptive patch works in a similar way to the combined oral contraceptive pill except the patch sticks to your skin rather than being in tablet form. Hormones are released from the patch into the bloodstream via the skin.

To order your prescription for the contraceptive pill, patch or ring you’ll need to fill out a short questionnaire about your health. Then, after you’ve ordered and paid for your prescription, one of our doctors will review your order and approve it if it’s right for you. If your order isn’t approved, you’ll be refunded for the full value of the consultation. After a prescription has been approved, it will be sent to your local pharmacy.

Not everyone gets them, but like any medication, the contraceptive pill has potential side effects. Most of them will be mild and temporary. The combined pill can cause breast tenderness, mood changes, mild headaches, bloating, or some breakthrough bleeding (bleeding between periods). The mini pill can cause acne, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, some breakthrough bleeding (bleeding between periods) or cysts in your ovaries that are usually harmless and disappear without treatment. There’s a possibility, although rare, of getting more severe side effects with the combined pill such as blood clots or severe migraine . You should see a doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms when taking the combined pill:

• Pain or swelling in the legs.
• Severe chest pain.
• Breathlessness or coughing up blood.
• Bad fainting attack or collapse.
• Unusual headaches or difficulty with speech or sight.
• Numbness or weakness of a limb.