Product features
Long-term contraception from a single dose of hormones
99% effective when you take it correctly
You inject it yourself every 12-13 weeks
What is Sayana Press?
Sayana Press is a contraceptive you inject every 12-13 weeks (about 3 months). It’s a highly effective, long-term way to prevent pregnancy.
How does it work?
The Sayana Press injection is a progesterone-only contraceptive that can prevent pregnancy by:
- Stopping your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
- Thickening the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
- Thinning the lining of the womb, so an egg is less likely to implant itself.
How to use Sayana Press
We can only prescribe the Sayana Press contraceptive injection if you’ve used it before and a healthcare professional has shown you how to inject it. They should have taken you through the following instructions:
- Always store it at room temperature and check that the pouch isn’t damaged or past its expiry date before using.
- You inject Sayana Press yourself at home, into your stomach or thigh. Avoid your belly button and bony areas, such as your hips, and try to inject a different spot each time.
- When you open the pouch, check that the needle has a shield. There should also be a gap between the needle and the port. If the gap isn’t there, or you notice any damage, discard the needle and open a new one.
- Wash your hands and clean the area you’re going to inject.
- Hold the device by the port and shake it for 30 seconds. This should mix it to look evenly white. If it isn’t, throw the needle away and try a new one. If there is a delay before injecting, you must repeat the mixing step.
- Hold the injector firmly by the port, making sure the needle shield is pointing upwards. Take care not to squeeze the reservoir. Hold the needle shield with the other hand. Push the needle shield firmly towards the port until it will go no further. The injector is now activated. Pull the needle shield off, and discard it when you’re ready to inject.
- When ready to inject, pinch the area of skin you’re going to inject and keep pinched throughout this step. Insert the needle until the port touches your skin.
- Slowly squeeze the container for about seven seconds to ensure all the medicine is injected, keep pinched throughout this step. There may be small amount of medicine left around the inside of the reservoir. This is normal.
- Pull the needle out and apply gentle pressure to that point on your skin with a clean cotton pad or tissue, to help stop bleeding.
- Dispose of the needle as advised by the healthcare provider who showed you how to inject.
Effectiveness
If used correctly, Sayana Press is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
Sayana Press won’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia or HIV. Only condoms can help with this.
Important: you should only inject yourself with Sayana Press if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Sayana Press
As with all medications, some women may experience side effects when using Sayana Press. Common side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 10 women, include:
- Weight gain
- Stomach cramps
- Feeling sick
- Acne
- No period or a very light period
- Heavy, frequent and/or unexpected bleeding
- Irregular periods
- Period pain
- Breast pain and tenderness
- Back and/or limb pain
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood changes
- Pain and/or soreness around the injection site
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low sex drive
Uncommon side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 100 women, include:
- Excessive hair growth (hirsutism)
- Bloating
- Fluid retention
- Vaginal discharge
- Vaginal dryness
- Pain during sex
- Pelvic pain
- Change in appetite
- Muscle cramps
- Migraine
- Vertigo
- Hot flushes
- High blood pressure
- Rash
- Itching
- Hair loss
- Loss of bone mineral density (a test used to diagnose osteoporosis or weak bones)
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Sayana Press patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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A clinician will review your answers and, if suitable, prescribe treatment
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Choose next-day delivery, or click & collect from your local pharmacy
Sayana Press FAQs
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How long does Sayana Press take to work?
If you start Sayana Press during the first 5 days of your period (day 1 being the first day of bleeding), this should give you immediate protection against pregnancy.
However, if you have it after that, you’ll need to use extra contraception like condoms for 7 days if you have sex. We’ll advise you on this during your online consultation.
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Does Sayana Press stop periods?
When taking Sayana Press regularly, you’re likely to experience a change in the pattern of your periods. Some women get irregular bleeding, and by 12 months, around 60% of women get no bleeding at all.
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Who can use Sayana Press?
Sayana Press is a safe and effective birth control option for many women. Start a confidential online consultation, and we’ll ask you a short series of questions about your health and medical history. Our clinicians will then only prescribe Sayana Press if it’s right for you.
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Can I use Sayana Press while breastfeeding?
Yes, it’s safe to inject Sayana Press while you’re breastfeeding as long as your baby is more than 6 weeks old. While the medication can be passed to your baby through your breastmilk, it won’t cause them any harm.
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Can I drink alcohol while using Sayana Press?
Yes, you can drink alcohol while using Sayana Press.
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What if I forget to get my Sayana Press injection?
If you miss your injection or wait longer than 14 weeks between injections, there’s a greater risk you could get pregnant. Your clinician can tell you when to take your next injection of Sayana Press. They can also advise you on alternative contraception to use in the meantime.
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Where can I buy Sayana Press?
Sayana Press is a prescription-only medication. Please speak to your GP if you’re thinking of using Sayana Press for the first time. If you’ve used Sayana Press before, one of our clinicians can prescribe it for you. First, we’ll ask you a series of questions about your health and medical history to make sure it’s safe for you.
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Sayana Press warnings
Before your doctor can prescribe Sayana Press safely, you may need to have a physical examination. You’ll also need to let them know if you have, or have had, any of the following conditions:
- Migraine headaches
- Diabetes or a family history of diabetes
- Severe pain or swelling in the calf (suggesting a possible clot in the leg, which could be phlebitis)
- A blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
- A blood clot in your eye affecting your vision (retinal thrombosis)
- A history of heart disease or cholesterol problems including within your family
- A history of depression
- Irregular, light, or heavy menstrual periods
- An unusual breast x-ray, fibrocystic breast disease, breast nodules or lumps, or bleeding from your nipples
- A stroke
- A family history of breast cancer
- Kidney disease
- High blood pressure
- Asthma
- Epilepsy
- Psychiatric disorders
Some women have reported symptoms of depression when using hormonal contraceptives including Sayana Press. This should be taken seriously as depression can lead to suicidal thoughts. If you get depressed moods and thoughts when using Sayana Press, speak to your doctor or contact us through your Patient Record.
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Sayana Press drug interactions
Some medicines can interact dangerously with Sayana Press, including those that thin your blood (anticoagulants). So that our clinicians can prescribe Sajana Press safely, you’ll need to let us know which medications you’re taking regularly. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, recreational drugs and any medicines you’ve got without a prescription.
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Alternative Sayana Press contraception
The Sayana Press injection 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 like injections, the coil, and implants through your GP or family planning clinic.
More contraception options
Delivery and collection information
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Standard delivery (Free)
Packages will be delivered within 2-3 working days of your order being approved.
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver the next working day.
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Next day delivery (£4.95)
Mainland UK
- Orders approved before 5pm Monday-Friday will arrive the next day (Tuesday - Saturday).
- Orders approved up to 11am Saturday will arrive on Sunday.
- Orders approved after 11am Saturday and all-day Sunday will arrive Tuesday.
Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands, Channel Islands and other offshore UK destinations:
- Please allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for offshore UK destinations
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver to you the next working day.
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Click and Collect (Free)
If your order is approved by 5pm Monday-Friday, you should be able to pick it up the same day from selected pharmacies - provided they have your treatment in stock.
We suggest you ring your chosen pharmacy before you go to collect your treatment, just to make sure they have it in stock and ready.