What you should do depends on which brand of pill you are taking, and on which week of the course you are currently on.

The general rule to follow is to take the pills for 7 continuous days to achieve contraceptive effect. Do refer to the product insert for more information.

While you are on the pill, you should not have your period because it will be suppressed. Some women may experience minor spotting. Your period will come during the pill-free week, usually days 2-3 after finishing the hormone-containing pills.

Different brands of contraceptive pills may have different additional benefits (e.g. to help with acne or excessive hair growth) and side effect profiles.

The best brand for you will depend on whether you have other conditions and if you have experienced serious side effects from any products before. It’s advisable to have an informed discussion with your medical profesional on the pros and cons of each pill.

All birth control pills contain hormones, and may not be suitable for women with certain conditions. Your medical professional should be aware of any medical conditions you may have.

Different brands have different side effects, and some have less than others. As these pills may interact with other medicines too, please inform your medical professional of all the medicines and supplements which you are currently taking.

Some of the common side effects include nausea, bloating, headache, breast tenderness, spotting.

It differs according to each person, so do refer to the product insert (usually found in section 4.4) or consult your medical professional to know more.

In general, girls can start taking combined oral contraceptive pills from 14 years of age*, or when they have had their first period. Always check with your medical professional if the treatment is suitable for you.

*As per our policy, only those who are 18 years old and above can purchase birth control pills on our website.

If you take combined contraceptive pills/using a birth control patch, you can delay your period by taking 2 strips of pills/using 2 boxes of patches back-to-back.

How you do this will depend on which pill/patch you take:

• For 21-day pills: You take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills when you have a bleed (period). To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill and skip the 7-day break. You will get your period at the end of the second packet of pills.

• For everyday (ED) pills: These pills include active and inactive pills. You take the active pills first, followed by the inactive or dummy pills during which you have a bleed (period). To delay your period, skip the dummy pills and start the active pills in a new packet straight away. You will get your period at the end of the second packet of pills.

• For birth control patches: You use a patch every week for 3 weeks, followed by a week without a patch when you have a bleed (period). To delay your period, skip the patch-free week and start a new pack of birth control patches. You will get your period at the end of the second box of patches.

Taking your contraceptive pills/using your contraceptive patch in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives.

Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break, without prior discussion with your medical professional. There is a risk of side effects such as breakthrough bleeding, bloating, and nausea.

Your “period” on the contraceptive pill is actually called withdrawal bleeding. It happens when the levels of hormones in your pills drop.

Studies have reported no significant negative health effects when you skip your "period" on the combined hormonal birth control pill. However, it’s still important to mention that there have been no long-term studies examining the safety of continually skipping your "period".

If you choose to skip your "period" continually, the main side effect is an increase in unpredictable breakthrough bleeding/ spotting.

Another concern about not having a regular “period” is that you lose the monthly confirmation that you are not pregnant. Although skipping your withdrawal bleed with the pill provides you with the same contraceptive protection as before, it also comes with the same risks if you don’t take your pill on a daily regular basis.

Avoid taking more than 2 packs without a break unless you have discussed it with your healthcare provider. If eliminating your "period" is something that is important to you, then the standard birth control pill packs may not be the best option for you. There are other forms of contraception, like the hormonal injection, the hormonal IUD, the hormonal implant, or continuous birth control pills, that can cause your period to decrease in frequency and amount, and sometimes stop altogether.

Speak to your healthcare provider about which type of birth control is best for you.

It takes 7 days for the pill/ patch to be effective in preventing pregnancy. Please use barrier protection (like a condom) in the meantime during sexual intercourse.

Switching to a new birth control can produce side effects. These may vary from women to women and by pill formula. These side effects usually disappear after 2-3 months as your body will adjust to the hormones. Please refer to the self help guide on what you can do to cope with them.

These are the signs/ symptoms that the new birth control is not right for you

- Extreme weight gain, especially in the first few days after you’ve started the pill

- Migraines or bad headaches that don’t respond to over the counter products

- Severe cramping and abdominal pain

- Sudden onset chest pain/ unilateral weakness/ blurring of vision

- Lower leg swelling that is painful

- Symptoms that don’t go away after four months. At this point, your body should have adjusted to the hormones. If symptoms are persistent after 4 months, hormonal birth control might not be a suitable choice of contraceptive for you.

Please stop taking birth control immediately and seek medical attention.

Common side effects include:

(i) Nausea, especially if you take the pill on an empty stomach. Try eating before you take a pill or taking your pill right before bed. We have 2 treatment options to manage nausea and feelings of sickness.

(ii) Headaches and tenderness caused by the fluctuation of hormones. Reduce your pain with our anti-inflammatory oral treatment.

(iii) Unscheduled bleeding, which can be alarming, is actually quite normal. Don’t panic; just make sure you’re prepared with the necessary supplies used during your monthly menses.

(iv) Emotional fluctuations. This is similar to the PMS symptoms you might have experienced. There is no easy way around this but simple steps such as deep breathing and relaxation exercises, Yoga or even calming music help quite a lot.

Keep your medicines in the original container or packaging.

Keep in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight.

Keep the medicine out of reach of children.

Many ladies put off the choice of using birth control pills because they do not have good answers to their questions. Here are the answers to questions that you are most curious about!

1) Do birth control pills cause weight gain?

No. Some women do gain a little bit of weight when they start taking birth control pills. It's often a temporary side effect that is due to fluid retention, not extra fat. A review of 44 studies showed no evidence that birth control pills cause weight gain in most women.

2) Do birth control pills increase my risk of cancer?

Taking the pill may help cut your risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial (uterine) cancer. That is likely because women who take the pill ovulate, or release eggs from the ovaries, fewer times than women who don’t take the pill. The more times you ovulate over your lifetime, the more hormones you’re exposed to.

The longer you take the pill, the greater the benefits. In fact, taking the pill for five years or longer may cut your ovarian cancer risk in half. That protection may last up to 25 years after you stop taking the pill, according to the National Cancer Institute. Taking the pill for at least four years may cut your endometrial cancer risk in half if you’re at average risk of the disease. Even better, this protection lasts for 10 years after you stop taking the pill.

Breast and cervical cancer risks are higher — but just slightly if you have been on the pill for many years. This slight increase is only temporary. And, your risk returns to normal about five years after you go off the pill.

3) Will birth control pills affect my ability to get pregnant in the future?

No, birth controls do not affect your future ability to get pregnant. You may be able to get pregnant within 1-3 months of stopping a combination pill.

4) Does hormonal birth control prevent STDs?

Birth control helps to prevent pregnancy but does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

The last 4 white tablets in the 4th row of the strip are the placebo tablets. If you forget one of these tablets, this has no effect on the reliability of Yaz. Throw away the forgotten placebo tablet. Take the next tablet at your usual time.

If you missed an active/pink tablet for less than 12 hours from your usual time:

• Take the missed tablet immediately. Your contraceptive protection is not reduced.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• Carry on taking the rest of the pack as usual

If you missed an active/pink tablet for more than 12 hours from your usual time, your contraceptive protection may be reduced.

If you missed a dose in the first week of the cycle (Day 1-7):

• Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• You need to use a barrier method for the next 7 days.
• If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

If you missed a dose in the second week of the cycle (Day 8-14):

• Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• If you did not miss any tablets the previous 7 days, you do not need extra contraception.
• However, if this is not the case or you missed more than 1 tablet, you will need barrier contraception for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

If you missed a dose in the third/fourth week of the cycle (Day 15-24):

• Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• Upon finishing the pink/ active pills, instead of taking the white placebo tablets on this strip, throw them away, and start the next strip. You will not have a withdrawal bleed until after you finish your second pack of birth control pill. You might have some bleeding during the days you are taking the pink/active pills.
• If you took your tablets correctly in the previous 7 days, you do not need extra contraception.
• However, if this is not the case or you missed more than 1 tablet, you will need to use a barrier method for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible

If you missed tablets and do not have any menstrual bleeding on the pill-free days, you might be pregnant. See your medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

Yes, you are protected from pregnancy even during the pill free week/ while on placebo pills as long as you have been taking your birth control pills correctly and starting your pills packs on time.

This depends if it's your first time or if you are switching from one birth control method or pill to another.

Taking birth control for the first time?

There are 2 ways you can do this.

1) Quick start!

Before you start, consider doing a pregnancy test if there has been any sexual intercourse since your last period/ chance of pregnancy. If the pregnancy test is negative, take your first pill as soon as you get the pack. During the first 7 days of pills, use a backup method of birth control, like a condom. It is recommended to repeat a urine pregnancy test 2 weeks after starting the pill. Don’t worry, birth control pills will not affect the foetus.

2) First day of your period

Start the pack on the first day of your period. If you start any later than D1 ie D2-5, use alternative birth control for the next 7 days.

Switching from other birth control

1) If you are switching from a 21-day tablet regimen

You do not need to finish the pill pack before switching to another method. You can stop taking your pill at any point in the pack. Start the new pack the day after taking any pill in the old pack. If you have been taking your birth control pills for 7 days before switching, you will be protected from pregnancy immediately. However, to increase the odds of a smooth transition from one brand of birth control to the next, aim to make the switch at the end of your cycle. This will be the day following the last day of your pill-free week and you will be protected from pregnancy immediately.

2) If you are currently taking a 28-day tablet regimen

You do not need to finish the active pills before switching to another method. You can stop taking your active pill at any point in the pack. Start the new pack the day after taking any active pill in the old pack. If you have been taking your active birth control pills for 7 days before switching, you will be protected from pregnancy immediately. However, to increase the odds of a smooth transition from one type of birth control to the next, aim to make the switch at the end of your cycle. This will be the day following the last day you take your placebo pills and you will be protected from pregnancy immediately.

3) If you are currently taking a progestogen-only pill

You can switch to the new pack any day. You will need a barrier method for the first 7 days of using the new birth control.

If you missed a tablet for less than 12 hours from your usual time:

• Take the missed tablet immediately. Your contraceptive protection is not reduced.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• Carry on taking the rest of the pack as usual

If you missed a tablet for more than 12 hours from your usual time, your contraceptive protection may be reduced.

If you missed a dose in the first week of the cycle:

• Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.
• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• You need to use a barrier method for the next 7 days.
• If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

If you missed a dose in the second week of the cycle:

Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.

• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• If you did not miss any tablets the previous 7 days, you do not need extra contraception.
• However, if this is not the case or you missed more than 1 tablet, you will need barrier contraception for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

If you missed a dose in the third week of the cycle:

Take the last missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 tablets at the same time.

• Take your next tablet at your usual time.
• Start the next pack as soon as the current pack is completed, without having 7 pill-free days. You will not have a withdrawal bleed until after you finish your second pack of birth control pill. You might have some bleeding on the days you take your medicine.
• If you took your tablets correctly in the previous 7 days, you do not need extra contraception.
• However, if this is not the case or you missed more than 1 tablet, you will need to use a barrier method for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. See a medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

If you missed tablets and do not have any menstrual bleeding on the pill-free day, you might be pregnant. See your medical professional for advice as soon as possible.

Yes, you are protected from pregnancy even during the patch free week as long as you have been using your birth control patch correctly and starting your new pack of birth control patch on time.

If you are just starting EVRA® for the first time, follow either:

1. First Day Start: Apply your first patch during the first 24 hours of your period. If therapy starts after Day 1 of the menstrual cycle, a barrier method (eg. condom) should be used concurrently for the first 7 days.
2. Quick start: Apply your first patch once you receive the pack. Use a barrier method (eg. condom) for the first 7 days.

EVRA® should be applied to clean, dry, hairless, intact healthy skin on the buttock, stomach, upper outer arm or upper body, in a place where it will not be rubbed by tight clothing.

EVRA® should not be placed on the breasts or on skin that is red, irritated or cut.

Steps:

1. Open the foil pouch by tearing it along the edge using your fingers. Firmly grasp a corner of the patch and gently remove it from the pouch. Sometimes patches can stick to the inside of the pouch – be careful not to accidentally remove the clear liner as you remove the patch.
2. Then peel away half of the clear protective liner. Avoid touching the sticky surface of the patch.
3. Position the patch on the skin and remove the other half of the liner.
4. Press down firmly on the patch with the palm of your hand for 10 seconds, ensuring that the edges stick well.

Things to Note:

1. To prevent interference with the adhesive properties of EVRA®, no make-up, creams, lotions, powders or other topical products should be applied to the skin area where the EVRA® patch is currently placed or will be applied shortly.
2. Check your patch daily to ensure continued proper adhesion.

Each patch is worn for 7 days. On the “Patch Change Day”, Day 8, remove the used patch and apply a new one immediately. The used patch still contains some active hormones –throw it away by carefully folding it in half so that it sticks to itself.

Apply a new patch on Week Two (Day 8) and again on Week Three (Day 15), on the usual “Patch Change Day”. Patch changes may occur at any time on the Change Day.

To help avoid potential irritation, change the site of administration when you change the patch.

Week Four is patch-free (Day 22 through Day 28), thus completing the four-week contraceptive cycle. Bleeding is expected during this time.

The next four-week cycle is started by applying a new patch on the usual “Patch Change Day”, the day after Day 28, no matter when the menstrual period begins or ends. Under no circumstances should there be more than a 7-day patch-free interval between dosing cycles.

At the start of any patch cycle

Week One (Day 1)

You may not be protected from pregnancy at this stage. Apply the first patch of your new cycle as soon as you remember. There is now a new “Patch Change Day” and a new “Day 1”. Use backup contraception for the first week of your new cycle.

In the middle of the patch cycle

Week Two (Day 8) or Week Three (Day 15)

<48 hours:

Apply a new patch immediately. The next patch should be applied on the usual “Patch Change Day”. No backup contraception is needed.

>48 hours:

You may not be protected from pregnancy. Stop the current contraceptive cycle and start a new four-week cycle immediately by putting on a new patch. There is now a new “Patch Change Day” and a new “Day 1”. Use back-up contraception for one week.

At the end of the patch cycle

Week Four (Day 22)

If you forget to remove your patch, take it off as soon as you remember. The next cycle should be started on the usual “Patch Change Day”, which is the day after Day 28. No backup contraception is needed.

If there are more than 7 patch-free days, You may not be protected from pregnancy and backup contraception must be used concurrently for 7 days. If intercourse has occurred during such an extended patch-free interval, the possibility of pregnancy should be considered.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the chatbox!

Although this is unlikely due to the adhesive nature of the patch, however, if the EVRA® patch becomes partially or completely detached and remains detached, insufficient drug delivery occurs.

If the patch remains even partly detached:

<24 hours:

Try to reapply it to the same place or replace it with a new patch immediately. No backup contraception is needed. Your “Patch Change Day” will remain the same.

>24 hours:

YOU MAY NOT BE PROTECTED FROM PREGNANCY. Stop the current contraceptive cycle and start a new cycle immediately by putting on a new patch. There is now a new “Day 1” and a new “Patch Change Day.” Back-up contraception must be used for the first week of the new cycle only.

A patch should not be reapplied if:

it is no longer sticky

it has become stuck to itself or another surface

it has other material stuck to it or if it has become loose or fallen off before

If a patch cannot be re-attached, a new patch should be applied immediately. Supplemental adhesives or wraps should not be used to hold the EVRA® patch in place.