Gedarel

Gedarel is a low-oestrogen combined contraceptive pill that contains ethinylestradiol (an oestrogen) and desogestrel (a progestogen).

Gedarel works by using 2 types of female sex hormones. These stop you from getting pregnant by:

• preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg during ovulation
• making your cervix mucus thicken and make it harder for sperm to get through
• thinning the lining of the womb so a fertilised egg is unable to implant itself

If you take Gedarel perfectly, it can be 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Gedarel does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV. Stay up to date with your smear tests to prevent STIs like HPV.

To take Gedarel, you should follow the days and arrows printed on the foil blister strip. Each blister strip has 21 pills for 1 month.

This is how you take Gedarel pills:

1. take 1 pill at the same time each day for 21 days
2. swallow each pill whole and with water
3. after 21 days, take a 7 day break where you do not take any pills
4. during your 7 day break, you’ll have a withdrawal bleed similar to having a period
5. you’ll still be protected from pregnancy during your 7 day break
6. on the day after your break finishes, start a new strip of pills
7. start a new strip of pills even if you’re still having a withdrawal bleed

If you start taking Gedarel during the first 5 days of your period, you’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away.

But if you start taking Gedarel at any other point of your menstrual cycle, you’ll need to use condoms for the first 7 days.

What do I do if I forget to take Gedaarel?

If you miss a pill it might affect your contraception. A pill counts as being missed if you have taken it more than 24 hours after you should have taken it.

• If you have only missed one pill, take it as soon as you remember, even if you have to take 2 pills at once. Continue to take the rest of your pack as usual. You’ll still be protected against pregnancy.
• If you have missed 2 or more pills, take the most recently missed pill as soon as you remember and leave any previous pills in the strip. This may mean taking two pills at once. Continue to take the rest of your pack as usual. But if you have fewer than 7 pills left in the pack, start a new pack without taking a pill free break. You will need to use extra contraception such as condoms for seven days as you may be at risk of pregnancy.

If you have missed more than 2 pills in the first week of your pack you may need to use emergency contraception. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you are unsure, you can also message one of our doctors through your account.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice if you have had unprotected sex and are unsure about what to do after missing a Gedarel pill. This includes if you vomit or have diarrhoea within 3 to 4 hours of taking a Gedarel pill.

What do I do if I take Gedarel twice?

If you take Gedaarel twice, you might start to feel sick, vomit or bleed from your vagina. You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible.

Can pregnant or breastfeeding women take Gedaarel?

You should not take Gedaarel if you are pregnant. You should speak to your doctor for advice if you are planning on getting pregnant, or if you think you might be pregnant, before taking Gedaarel.

If you are breastfeeding you might be able to take Gedarel, but this will depend on when you gave birth. You should speak to your doctor about this before using Gedaarel.

What should I watch out for if I want to stop taking Gedarel?

If you stop taking Gedarel you will no longer be protected from getting pregnant. You will need to use alternative contraception like a condom. A few days after your last Gedarel pill, you will bleed from your vagina. You should speak to your doctor for advice on a different method of contraception to prevent pregnancy.