What Is The Combined Contraceptive Pill? [Complete Guide]

The combined contraceptive pill is one of the most widely used forms of contraception in the UK.

It’s reliable, easy to use, and suits many women at different stages of life.

So, if you want to prevent pregnancy and you’re considering taking the pill, read on to discover everything you need to know!

What Is the Combined Contraceptive Pill?

The combined contraceptive pill (often called “the combined pill” or just “the pill”) is a pill taken daily to prevent pregnancy.

It contains the hormones oestrogen and progestogen, which work together to reduce the chances of getting pregnant by stopping ovulation.

How Does the Combined Pill Work?

The pill releases oestrogen and progestogen which prevent pregnancy in 3 ways:

1. They prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg every month.
2. They block sperm from reaching an egg by making the cervical mucus thicker.
3. They make the womb lining thinner so that an egg cannot implant.

What Are the Types of the Combined Pill?

There are 3 main types of the combined contraceptive pill:

1. Monophasic 21-day Pills

This is the most common type of pill. Each pill contains the same amount of hormone.

Pharmacist guidance (box structure):

• If you want to have a bleed → Take one pill every day for 21 days, then stop for 7 days.
• If you don’t want to have a bleed → Take the pills without a break.

Examples of monophasic 21-day pills

• Microgynon
• Rigevidon
• Brevinor

2. Phasic 21-day Pills

They are designed to follow the body’s natural menstrual cycle. Each pack contains pills with different amounts of hormones (shown by different coloured pills).

Pharmacist guidance:

• The pills need to be taken in the right order.
• Take them for 21 days, then take a 7-day break.

• They may be more suitable for women who experience side effects on monophasic pills.

Examples of phasic 21-day pills

• Synphase
• Logynon

3. Every Day (ED) Pills

Every day pills are designed for individuals who find it difficult to remember to take the pills consistently.

Every pack contains:

• 21 active pills (with the same amount of hormone in each)
• 7 inactive pills that don’t contain hormones (also called dummy or reminder pills)

Pharmacist guidance:

• Take one pill every day without a break.
• You will probably have a bleed while taking the inactive pills. Protection continues as long as you’ve taken the active pills correctly beforehand.

Every day pills are very helpful because:

1. You take a pill every day without a break. Breaks are the points when most women make mistakes.
2. You can build a daily routine, which makes pill-taking easier to remember.

How Effective Is the Combined Pill?

1. According to the NHS, the combined pill is more than 99% effective when taken correctly.
2. NHS data also suggests that effectiveness is around 91% with typical use (real-life use, where mistakes can happen).

What Affects Effectiveness?

• Missed or late pills (more than 24 hours late)
• Vomiting or diarrhoea (they can prevent absorption)
• Certain medications (e.g., some anti-epilepsy medications)

What Are the Advantages of the Combined Pill? [Beyond Contraception]

Many women choose the combined pill for benefits beyond contraception. More specifically:

• Period pain relief (browse all of Weldricks’ trusted period pain relief products)
• Lighter, regular periods (e.g., less bleeding)
• Reduced symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (such as bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes, etc.)
• Improved acne (if you’re struggling with this, check our reliable acne treatment products)
• Lower risk of certain conditions (ovarian or endometrial cancer)

What Are the Side Effects of the Combined Pill?

Common Combined Pill Side Effects

• Breakthrough bleeding
• Mild nausea
• Headaches (learn how to get rid of a headache)
• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Raised blood pressure

Less Common Combined Pill Side Effects

• Blood clots
• Cervical, breast, or liver cancer

Seek urgent medical help if you have sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, or severe headaches with vision problems.

Who Cannot Take the Combined Pill?

The combined pill is not suitable for everyone.

You should not take it if you:

• Smoke and are over 35 years old (or if you’re 35 or older and stopped smoking a year ago)
• Think you may be pregnant
• Are very overweight

You should also not take it if you have or have had:

• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Migraines with aura (by the way, check our guide to migraine relief)
• Breast cancer
• Heart problems or high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes with complications
• Gallbladder or bile duct problems

If any of the above apply to you, consult your doctor or pharmacist, who can help decide what’s the safest choice for you.

When Does the Combined Pill Start to Work?

This depends on when you start taking it:

• If you start taking the pill during the first 5 days of your period, protection is immediate.
• If you start taking it on any other day of your cycle, you won’t be protected straight away. That’s why you will be needing another type of contraception (such as condoms) for the first 7 days.

Read also: When Can I Start Taking The Contraceptive Pill?

What to Do If You Miss a Combined Pill

Missing pills is common, and knowing what to do helps reduce risk.

If you miss 1 pill:

1. Take the last pill you missed, even if it means taking 2 pills in one day.
2. Take the next pill at the usual time.
3. Take the rest of the pills as usual.
4. Take the 7-day pill-free break.

If you miss 2 or more pills:

1. Take the most recent pill you missed, even if it means taking 2 pills in one day.
2. Don’t take any earlier missed pills.
3. Continue the rest of the pack.
4. Use condoms for the next 7 days.
5. Emergency contraception may also be needed if pills were missed in week one.

A pharmacist can guide you if you’re unsure what steps to take.

Where Can I Get the Combined Pill?

You can access the combined pill in several ways in the UK:

• Sexual health clinics
• GP surgeries
• Some pharmacies
• Some young people’s services

Weldricks Pharmacy offers access to the combined pill through its NHS pharmacy contraception service, with professional advice and discreet support from trained professionals.

Combined Contraceptive Pill — Conclusion

The combined contraceptive pill is a trusted and effective option for many women that don’t want to get pregnant.

Understanding everything about the pill will help you make the safest choice for your needs, but it’s always important to speak to a healthcare professional first to check what’s suitable for you and your medical history.

If you’re looking to get started on contraception, you can order the contraceptive pill online through Weldricks Pharmacy with a simple, pharmacist-led assessment.