Marvelon
"A combined contraceptive pill that’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if you take it correctly. Contains ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and desogestrel (progesterone). You’ll need an annual blood pressure and weight check to take it."
What is Marvelon?
Combined contraceptive pills contain two hormones. Marvelon is a combination of ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and desogestrel (progesterone). It’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly.
How does it work?
The Marvelon contraceptive pill works 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 Marvelon?
Most women choose to take one daily Marvelon 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 Marvelon.
- Continuous use is taking one Marvelon 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 can advise on which way to take Marvelon is best for you.
Effectiveness
The Marvelon combined pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if you take it correctly. 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. If you can have sex, 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 Marvelon tablets if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Marvelon
As with all medications, some women may experience side effects when taking Marvelon birth control pills. These include mood swings, headaches, stomach pain, sore breasts, or feeling sick. This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women will develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the patient information leaflet for Marvelon pills. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
99% effective when you take it as prescribed
Take for 21 days with a 7-day break
Can make periods lighter
What is Marvelon?
Combined contraceptive pills contain two hormones. Marvelon is a combination of ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and desogestrel (progesterone). It’s 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly.
How does it work?
The Marvelon contraceptive pill works 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 Marvelon?
Most women choose to take one daily Marvelon 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 Marvelon.
- Continuous use is taking one Marvelon 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 can advise on which way to take Marvelon is best for you.
Effectiveness
The Marvelon combined pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if you take it correctly. 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. If you can have sex, 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 Marvelon tablets if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Marvelon
As with all medications, some women may experience side effects when taking Marvelon birth control pills. These include mood swings, headaches, stomach pain, sore breasts, or feeling sick. This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women will develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the patient information leaflet for Marvelon pills. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Marvelon FAQs
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How long does Marvelon take to work?
If you start taking Marvelon on days 1-5 of your period, this should give you immediate protection against pregnancy.
However, if you start Marvel after day one 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 Marvelon stop periods?
Taking Marvelon normally makes your periods more regular, lighter and less painful. It’s possible to delay your period if you take 2 packets of Marvelon back-to-back. Our clinicians can advise on delaying your period using contraceptive pills.
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Who can take Marvelon?
You should talk to a clinician about your other birth control options and not take Marvelon if:
- You’re pregnant or suspect you might be.
- You have, or have ever had, a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolus, PE) or other organs.
- You have a blood clotting disorder.
- You have, or have ever had, a heart attack or stroke.
- You have very high blood pressure.
There are other instances where the pill is not suitable, and our clinicians can advise on this during your online consultation.
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Can I take Marvelon while breastfeeding?
If you’re breastfeeding, we advise against taking Marvelon for 6 weeks after giving birth. Combined contraceptives can reduce milk supply and may also put you at greater risk of blood clots.
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What if I miss my Marvelon 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 Marvelon patient information leaflet. If you need more advice you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Where can I buy Marvelon?
As this pill is prescription only, you’ll need to be approved by a clinician before you can buy the treatment, even if you’re using an online service.
We can prescribe Marvelon for you online, for discreet delivery or to pick up from your nearest Well pharmacy. To make sure it’s safe for you, we'll ask you a series of questions including your height, weight and blood pressure.
Start an online consultation. It’ll only take a few minutes and is completely confidential.
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Marvelon warnings
Combined contraceptives can cause your blood pressure to rise, which can be dangerous. Your blood pressure needs checking before starting any combined contraceptive, then once a year after that. If you’ve had your blood pressure checked recently, or checked it yourself using a home blood pressure monitor, you can give us this information as part of your consultation.
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Marvelon drug interactions
You should be able to take Marvelon 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 Marvelon contraception
A combined pill like Marvelon 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.
