Marvelon is a combination pill of estrogen and progestin. The daily dose of hormones taken in the pill work mainly by tricking your body into thinking that ovulation has already happened. This prevents an egg from ripening and being released from the ovaries each month.

The hormones also increase the thickness of the natural mucus at the neck of the womb, which makes it more difficult for sperm to cross from the vagina into the womb and reach an egg. They also change the quality of the womb lining (endometrium), making it less likely that a fertilised egg can implant there.

How do I take Marvelon?

Marvelon is a monophasic pill which means that each tablet has the same dose of hormones in it. One tablet is taken every day for 21 days and you then have a seven day break from pill-taking. During the seven day break, the levels of the hormones in your blood drop, which results in a withdrawal bleed that is similar to your normal period. You start the next pack after the seven pill-free days are up, even if you are still having your period.

You will still be protected against pregnancy in your pill-free week, provided you took all the pills correctly, you start the next packet on time and nothing else happened that could make the pill less effective (eg. sickness, diarrhea, or taking certain medicines).

When can I start taking Marvelon?

You should start taking the pill the first day of your period. This will protect you from pregnancy immediately and you won’t need to use any back-up contraception. If necessary, you can also start taking it up to day five of your cycle without needing to use additional contraception when you start. However, if you have a short menstrual cycle (with your period coming every 23 days or less), starting as late as the fifth day of your cycle may not provide you with immediate protection. Speak with your doctor as to whether you would need a back-up for the first seven days.

What should I do if I forget to take a pill?

Always try to take your pill at the same time every day. Try combining it with brushing your teeth or eating a meal – so it’s easier to remember to take it. If you forget to take a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember (even if that means taking two pills in one day) and then continue to take your pills, one every day, as normal.

With Marvelon, if you have missed one or two pills, you will still be protected against pregnancy and you don’t need to use extra contraception. Take the last pill you missed as soon as you remember, then continue taking your pills as normal.

If you forget to take three or more pills, you will not be protected against pregnancy. You should take the last pill you missed as soon as you remember, forget the other missed ones and then continue to take your pills, one every day, as normal. You should then either not have sex, or use a back-up contraceptive, until you have taken a pill correctly for the next seven days in a row.

Marvelon should not be used if you:

• have a known or suspected pregnancy
• are breastfeeding (until weaning or for six months after birth)
• have a personal or family history of a blood clot in a vein (venous thromboembolism), eg. in the leg (deep vein thrombosis) or in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• have blood disorders that increase the risk of blood clots in the veins, eg antiphospholipid syndrome or factor V Leiden
• have a long-term condition called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• have excess of urea in the blood causing damaged red blood cells (haemolytic uraemic syndrome)
• have two or more other risk factors for getting a blood clot in a vein, eg. obesity, varicose veins, long-term immobility
• ever had a blood clot in an artery, eg a stroke or mini-stroke caused by a blood clot, or a heart attack
• have angina
• have a heart valve disease
• have a irregular heartbeat caused by very rapid contraction of the top two chambers of the heart (atrial fibrillation)
• have moderate to severe high blood pressure (hypertension)
• have high cholesterol levels
• have severe diabetes with complications, eg affecting the eyes, kidneys or nerves
• smoke more than 40 cigarettes per day
• are over 50 years of age
• have two or more other risk factors for getting a blood clot in an artery, eg. family history of heart attack or stroke before the age of 45 (parent, brother or sister), diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, age over 35 years, obesity, migraines
• get migraines with aura, severe migraines regularly lasting over 72 hours despite treatment, or migraines that are treated with ergot derivatives
• have a history of breast cancer
• have cancer involving the genital tract
• have vaginal bleeding of unknown cause
• have severe liver disease, eg. liver cancer, hepatitis
• have a history of liver disease when liver function has not returned to normal
• have disorders of bile excretion that cause jaundice (eg Dubin-Johnson or Rotor syndrome)
• have gallstones (cholelithiasis)
• have a history of jaundice, severe itching, hearing disorder called otosclerosis, or rash called pemphigoid gestationis during a previous pregnancy, or previous use of sex hormones
• have hereditary blood disorders known as porphyrias

Does Marvelon have any side effects?

Common side effects for Marvelon can be:

• Weight gain
• Nausea and vomiting (felt for the first few cycles)
• Dizziness
• Increase or decrease in acne
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Loss of libido
• Depression
• Vaginal infections

Serious, but less common, health risks can be:

• Blood clots in legs, lungs, heart or brain
• Stroke
• Heart attacks
• Possibly cervical cancer

If side effects persist or worsen while taking Marvelon contact your doctor immediately.

Marvelon will not protect you from HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Certain medications like antibiotics are also known to increase the chance of your birth control pill failing.

BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.

For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.

Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.