Femynor

What is Femynor?

Femynor is a combined birth control pill. When taken correctly, it stops you from getting pregnant by altering your menstrual cycle.

Femynor has other benefits, too. It isn’t primarily prescribed for heavy or painful periods, but can help to make these more regular and manageable.

How does Femynor work?

Femynor is a combined pill, so it contains two hormones that work like progesterone and estrogen. These hormones do a little number in your body to trick it into not ovulating. No ovulation = no egg = no baby. They also stop your uterine wall from getting thicker. This means no implantation for any stray fertilized eggs (just in case) and lighter periods. The pill makes cervical mucus thicker, so sperm can’t make their way to an egg as easily.

How safe is Femynor?

Femynor is actually in the safest category of combined birth control pills. Blood clots are rare anyway with the pill, but women taking Femynor are even less likely to get a blood clot than they are with other options.

But you should read the information that comes with it before you start taking it, so you know what side effects you should see a doctor about if they happen.

If you have any risk factors for a blood clot, like high blood pressure or if you smoke and are over 35, combined pills like Femynor aren’t the best option for you. In this case, you’ll usually be advised to take the mini pill instead.

How effective is Femynor?

With perfect use, Femynor offers more than 99% protection against pregnancy, which means fewer than one in 100 women will get pregnant while using Femynor over the course of a year.

If you make an occasional faux pas - so miss a pill, for example - it’s a little less effective at around 91%. So it’s better not to deviate from the instructions, and to get into the regular routine of taking it.

How to take Femynor

Take one Femynor pill at the same time every day. Swallow it whole with water. Femynor comes in packs of 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills. At the end of the 21 active pills, you will experience a withdrawal bleed while you take the 7 inactive pills. After you complete the pack, you should start a new one the next day.

When to start taking Femynor

If you can, start it on the first day of your cycle, which is the first day of your period. You’ll be instantly protected against pregnancy from the first pill and won’t need to use a barrier contraceptive (e.g. a condom) for the first seven days. You can start taking Femynor on another day, but you will need to use a barrier contraceptive for the following week while the pill starts to work. If you have been using a different combined contraceptive up until the day you’re starting Femynor, you should start the new course without a break. There is no need to take the week break between the two and you will be protected immediately. At the end of the first Femynor strip, you should take the seven day break as normal.

What should I do if I miss a Femynor pill?

Try not to panic, and check the leaflet for advice on what to do. Everybody forgets to take their medication once in a while. One of the advantages of the combined pill is that it offers some flexibility with missed pills. If you normally take it at a certain time, and remember to take it within 12 hours of that time, you will stay over 99% protected against pregnancy. If it’s been over 12 hours since your missed pill, take the one you forgot as soon as you remember and then the next at the normal time (this might mean taking two on the same day). When you miss more than one, you only need to take the most recent pill you forgot. The other pills you’ve missed can be discarded. If you miss one or more pills, you’ll need to use a barrier contraceptive for the following seven days. Sometimes, you might need to skip your seven inactive pills – it depends where in your pack your missed pill is. The pamphlet that comes with your pills will have more info on this.