Combined Pills
The daily pill that keeps you protected against pregnancy.
Pinning down the right combined pill for you can be tricky. So let’s take the hassle out of it.
We can show you the different options and make recommendations tailored just for you. Order the combined pill online and get your treatment on subscription.
They’re pills that combine two types of hormone: oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones affect how and when your body prepares for pregnancy.
There are several different types of combined birth control pill and they’re all just about equally effective at preventing pregnancy. However, some contain higher doses of hormones than others, or use different types of progestin and oestrogen. This means one pill might be ideal for easing specific PMS symptoms, while another pill works great for women who are extra-sensitive to hormones.
It can feel a bit overwhelming, so we’re here to help.
The combined pill works in three ways to prevent pregnancy. Here’s the big one: it stops ovulation. That’s when your ovary releases an egg, and it happens once a month. Each egg has the chance to become fertilised, leading to pregnancy. If fertilisation doesn’t happen, the lining of your womb breaks down and the whole thing happens again next cycle (lots of fun, we know).
Because the combined birth control pill stops ovulation, your chances of becoming pregnant are significantly reduced.
The combined birth control pill also protects you by making the mucus in your cervix thicker. “Thick mucus” isn’t something you normally want to hear but in this case, it’s great news. When it’s thicker, sperm have a much harder time reaching the egg.
The pill also makes your uterine lining thinner. This lining builds throughout the month and then breaks down during your period. When you’re using birth control, the lining doesn’t build in the same way. And so the period you have while taking the pill should be shorter, lighter and more predictable.
Any that contain two active ingredients, a progesterone and an oestrogen. To find out if your pill is a combined pill, just check the active ingredients.
In the leaflet that comes with your pill, the ingredients should be clearly listed at the top underneath the name of the drug. For combined pills you should see two ingredients, front and center, that are progestin and oestrogen.
With Loestrin, for example, the active ingredients are norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol. This pill is clearly stated as a progestin-oestrogen combination.
We offer a range of combined birth control pills, so there’s plenty of choice for you. But if you can’t take combination pills, for any reason, it’s important to share this with us for your safety.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
There are two ways of measuring how effective pills are at preventing pregnancy. One way is according to perfect use. This means you take the pill exactly as you should, every day, without making a mistake. The level of effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill when taken like this is over 99%. So in a whole year, fewer than 1 in 100 women taking the combined birth control in that time will become pregnant.
The other way is typical use. This is when you take the pill but make realistic errors, such as forgetting the occasional pill or taking it late. It’s 91% effective when taken like this, which means about 9 in 100 women taking it over a year will become pregnant.
The best way to make sure the pill is effective then is to follow the instructions as closely as you can when you take it.
It depends on whether you’re taking the pill for the first time, coming back after a break, or switching from a different type of birth control. If you’re using the pill for the first time, you can start on any day.
When you start using the pill on the first day of your period, you’re protected from becoming pregnant immediately — so you don’t need to worry about using a condom. You’ll also be protected immediately if you start taking the pill before the fifth day of your period.
If you start using the pill after the fifth day of your cycle, you won’t be protected right away. Use a back-up birth control method (like condoms) for seven days while the pill starts to work.
Another option is the Sunday start approach. If you start taking the pill on the first Sunday after your period begins, you avoid withdrawal bleeding on a weekend (if you want to skip having your period on a weekend, this is the way to go).
You shouldn’t leave a gap when you’re switching from one birth control method to the combined pill. If you’re already taking a hormonal birth control pill, start your new prescription the day after you finish your last pill.
If you’re using the vaginal ring, start the pill a day before you’re set to take out the ring.
If you normally have the Depo-Provera injection, you can start taking your pill up to 15 weeks after your last shot.
And if you have an IUD (copper or hormonal), you should begin your combined birth control pill pack a week before having your IUD removed.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
No. Whilst all contraceptive pills have the same effectiveness (so over 99% when they’re used correctly), some pills contain variations of the same hormone, or higher or lower doses of hormones than others. It may be that you’re more sensitive to progestin (or oestrogen) in the combined pill for instance, and so you’ll be better off taking a particular pill that restricts the number of side effects you get.
If you’re more sensitive to progestin for example, combined pills like Microgynon, Levest and Ovranette are the safest, and the least likely to trigger side effects. And if you’re more sensitive to oestrogen, combination pills such as Lucette, Yasmin and Yacella should offer you the best protection from side effects.
Unless you’ve tried a few different pills and found one that works well for you, there’s a good chance that you won’t know which is the best option. Finding the right combination pill for you can involve some trial and error. And our bodies can change over time, so what was effective before might not suit you as well now. A consultation with our clinician will help you to narrow down your options.
Besides your sensitivity to hormones in pills and whether you’re prone to certain side effects, there are other factors that may play a role in identifying the right pill for you too. If you’re looking for a pill that can also help with acne, for example, the likes of Yasmin (or the generic version, Lucette) are thought to be particularly strong choices. But at the same time, you may be at a slightly higher risk of getting a blood clot with these treatments, so the pros and cons of specific pills also need to be taken into account.
In short then, we can help you to pick out the best (and safest) combination pills for you by weighing these things up, using your health background as the basis.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Have something specific you want to know about Combined pills? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Choosing a combined oral contraceptive pill. Australian Prescriber, 38(1), pp.6–11. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2015.002.
Pill with a 'regular' oestrogen dose. Comes in a 21 pack. Very similar to Cimizt and Gedarel 30.
Well known pill that reduces PMS symptoms and can help to make your periods more regular.
The same active ingredients as Microgynon. A birth control pill you take every day.
Safest category pill, helps with heavy menstrual bleeding. Very similar to Nordette and Microgynon.
Safest category combined pill, with a lower risk of oestrogen side effects. Very similar to Levlen.
Very similar to Microgynon and Levlen. Safest category pill that helps with heavy menstrual bleeds.
Triphasic pill. Similar to Microgynon, but with phased doses to match changes during your cycle.
A triphasic pill giving you three different doses of hormones throughout the month.
Extended cycle pill that comes in a larger pack.
Higher oestrogen dose pill, helps to make periods more regular.
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