Lucette
"A combined contraceptive pill that’s highly effective in preventing pregnancy. Contains the hormones ethinylestradiol and drospirenone. To take it, you’ll need an annual blood pressure and weight check."
What is Lucette?
Lucette is a combined oral contraceptive that’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when you take it correctly.
How does it work?
The Lucette combined pill contains two hormones, ethinylestradiol and drospirenone. Together they help to:
- Stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
- Thicken the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
- Thin the lining of the womb, so an egg is less likely to implant itself.
How to use Lucette
Most women choose to take one daily Lucette pill for 21 days, with a 4 or 7 day break before they start the next pack. You’re likely to have a withdrawal bleed during this break. However, there are other ways to take Lucette.
- Continuous use is taking one Lucette contraceptive pill daily without a break.
- Tricycling is where you take a daily pill for 9 weeks without a break (three packs of pills). After these 9 weeks you take a 4 or 7 day break, then start the cycle again.
- Flexible extended use means taking one pill daily for at least 21 days. If you experience heavier bleeds and would rather have a shorter bleed window, you can take a 4-day break instead of 7. On day 5 start taking the pill daily again, and continue for at least 21 days without another break.
Our clinicians will help you find the best way to take Lucette.
Effectiveness
When taken correctly, the Lucette birth control pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. In cases where it’s not taken exactly as prescribed, it can lead to pregnancy for around 9 out of 100 women. So it’s important to follow advice and instructions.
If you’re vomiting or have severe diarrhoea while taking this pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. So use condoms along with continuing to take the pill as usual. If the vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, follow the same steps as you would for a missed pill.
Important: you should only start taking Lucette if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Lucette
It’s not common to get side effects from taking Lucette, but for some women these can include mood swings, vaginal discharge, rashes or yeast infections, headaches, sore breasts or feeling sick.
This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women could develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Lucette patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
99% effective when taken as prescribed
You usually take it for 21 days followed by a 7-day break
Can make periods lighter
What is Lucette?
Lucette is a combined oral contraceptive that’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when you take it correctly.
How does it work?
The Lucette combined pill contains two hormones, ethinylestradiol and drospirenone. Together they help to:
- Stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
- Thicken the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
- Thin the lining of the womb, so an egg is less likely to implant itself.
How to use Lucette
Most women choose to take one daily Lucette pill for 21 days, with a 4 or 7 day break before they start the next pack. You’re likely to have a withdrawal bleed during this break. However, there are other ways to take Lucette.
- Continuous use is taking one Lucette contraceptive pill daily without a break.
- Tricycling is where you take a daily pill for 9 weeks without a break (three packs of pills). After these 9 weeks you take a 4 or 7 day break, then start the cycle again.
- Flexible extended use means taking one pill daily for at least 21 days. If you experience heavier bleeds and would rather have a shorter bleed window, you can take a 4-day break instead of 7. On day 5 start taking the pill daily again, and continue for at least 21 days without another break.
Our clinicians will help you find the best way to take Lucette.
Effectiveness
When taken correctly, the Lucette birth control pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. In cases where it’s not taken exactly as prescribed, it can lead to pregnancy for around 9 out of 100 women. So it’s important to follow advice and instructions.
If you’re vomiting or have severe diarrhoea while taking this pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. So use condoms along with continuing to take the pill as usual. If the vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, follow the same steps as you would for a missed pill.
Important: you should only start taking Lucette if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Lucette
It’s not common to get side effects from taking Lucette, but for some women these can include mood swings, vaginal discharge, rashes or yeast infections, headaches, sore breasts or feeling sick.
This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women could develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Lucette patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Select a medication and complete our simple, confidential online consultation
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Lucette FAQs
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How long does Lucette take to work?
If you start taking Lucette on days 1-5 of your period, this should give you immediate protection against pregnancy.
However, if you start Lucette after this time or you have a short or irregular menstrual cycle, you’ll need to use extra contraception like condoms for 7 days if you have sex. Your clinician can advise on this.
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Does Lucette stop periods?
Lucette can make your periods lighter, more regular and less painful. It’s possible to delay your period if you take 2 packets of Lucette back-to-back. Our clinicians can advise on delaying your period using contraceptive pills.
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Who can take Lucette?
Lucette may not be right for you depending on having a range of health conditions or your medical history. These are detailed in the patient information leaflet and your clinician can advise you.
If you’re a smoker over 35, we’ll advise you not to take Lucette. Better birth control alternatives could be:
- The progestogen-only pill
- An intrauterine device (IUD)
- An intrauterine system (IUS)
- A contraceptive implant
- A contraceptive injection
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Can I take Lucette while breastfeeding?
If you’re breastfeeding, you can take Lucette from 6 weeks after birth.
Remember that breastfeeding might not stop you getting pregnant.
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What if I miss my Lucette pill?
If you miss one pill at any point in your pack or start a new pack 1 day late, you’re still protected from pregnancy.
Here’s what to do:
- Take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking 2 pills on the same day.
- Continue taking the remaining pills at your regular schedule.
- If you normally have a pill-free break, stick to your usual timing.
If you’ve missed two or more pills (over 48 hours late), your contraceptive protection may be reduced.
Follow these steps:
- Take the most recent missed pill right away, even if it means taking 2 pills in one day.
- Skip any other earlier missed pills.
- Use additional contraception, like condoms, for the next 7 days.
- Continue with your pack as normal.
- You may need emergency contraception if you have had unprotected sex after missing pills.
When you finish the pack after missing pills:
- If there are 7+ pills left in your pack: Finish the pack as usual and take your 7-day pill-free break as planned.
- If fewer than 7 pills are left in your pack: Skip the pill-free break and start a new pack immediately.
You may need emergency contraception if:
- You’ve had unprotected sex after missing pills.
- You had unprotected sex in the 7 days before the missed pills.
Our clinicians can prescribe emergency contraception, if it’s safe to do so.
For full details of correct use and what to do if you miss a pill, please see the Lucette patient information leaflet. If you need more advice you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Where can I buy Lucette?
As this pill is prescription only you'll need to consult with a clinician before you can buy the treatment, even if you’re using an online service.
We can prescribe Lucette for you online, for discreet home delivery or to pick up from your nearest Well Pharmacy. To make sure it’s safe for you, we'll ask you a few questions including your height, weight and blood pressure.
Start an online consultation. It’s completely confidential and only takes a few minutes.
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What to do if I get Lucette side effects
You should talk to your doctor if you get any side effects that you think are from taking Lucette, especially if they’re severe and persistent.
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Lucette warnings
Combined contraceptives can raise your blood pressure, which could be dangerous. So, it’s important to check your blood pressure before starting the treatment, then once a year after that.
As part of your consultation, we’ll ask you if you’ve had your blood pressure checked recently, or checked it yourself at home using a blood pressure monitor. This information is required before we can prescribe combined contraceptives like Lucette.
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Lucette drug interactions
You should be able to take Lucette alongside other medications. So that our clinicians can prescribe it safely, you’ll need to let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and recreational drugs you’re taking regularly.
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Alternative Lucette contraception
A combined pill like Lucette is just one of a wide range of contraceptives we can advise you on and prescribe. These include NuvaRing, Evra Patch, the contraceptive injection, combined pills and progestogen only pills.
See our full contraception range here.
You can also get long-acting contraceptives through your GP or family planning clinic. These include the coil, implants, and contraceptive injections.
