Levest

Levest is a combined birth control pill which contains the active ingredients levonorgestrel (150 mcg) and ethinylestradiol (30 mcg). Levonorgestrel is a synthetic form of progesterone, and ethinylestradiol is a synthetic form of oestrogen. Other popular combined pills containing the same active ingredients as Levest include Microgynon and Rigevidon.

Levest is a hormonal contraceptive pill containing levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol, used to prevent pregnancy. It is a combined pill as it contains both a synthetic progesterone and a synthetic oestrogen. These hormones work together to prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, and alter the womb lining. 

Once Levest is taken, levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol work together to reduce the chance of pregnancy by inhibiting the ovary from releasing an egg, thickening cervical mucus to reduce sperm motility, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation of a fertilised egg. 

Each pack of Levest contains 21 pills, with the day of the week marked beside each pill to allow you to keep track of your consumption and help maintain your intake regime. One pill should be swallowed whole, at the same time each day, for 21 consecutive days.

Following the 21 daily consumption of Levest, there will likely be a withdrawal bleed, which is completely normal and not a cause of concern.

You should commence the next pack, after the 7-day break, even if the bleeding continues. If you are taking Levest correctly, you should begin every new pack on the same day of the week and your withdrawal bleed should be on the same day each month.

Levest will be effective immediately in preventing pregnancy if it is taken between days 1 and 5 of the menstrual cycle.

If Levest is taken at any phase of the menstrual cycle other than the start, or if women have irregular periods making ovulation hard to predict, it may take up to 7 days for the Levest pill to begin providing protection. During this time, it is advisable to use barrier contraceptives like condoms to reduce the risk of pregnancy.

You should not use Levest if you have any of the following health conditions:

• If you have (or have ever had) a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs or other organs
• If you have a disorder affecting blood clotting
• If you need an operation or if you are off your feet for a long time
• If you have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• If you have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain) or transient ischaemic attack (TIA – temporary stroke symptoms)
• Severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
• High blood pressure
• High level of fat in the blood (cholesterol or triglycerides)
• Hyperhomocysteinaemia
• If you experience severe migraines called ‘migraine with aura’
• If you have or have ever had breast cancer
• If you have had any severe liver issues

Levest and Rigevidon are medically identical with both containing the same active ingredients and dosage (150 mcg of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol). The sole difference between these two pills is the manufacturer and brand name. 

Levest and Microgynon are identical in terms of active ingredients and dosage (150 mcg of levonorgestrel and 30 mcg of ethinylestradiol), with the branding being the only difference between the two pills. 

Levest does not stop your period entirely but replaces it with withdrawal bleeding, which occurs during the 7-day break from taking the pill. This bleeding is generally lighter and shorter than regular periods, as it is caused by the drop in hormone levels from the contraceptive, not by the natural menstrual cycle.

If you wish to have immediate pregnancy prevention, it is recommended to start taking Levestt between days 1 and 5 of the menstrual cycle.

Otherwise, if taken at any other point in the cycle, it can take up to 7 days for Levest to become effective in preventing pregnancy. 

If you miss a Levest pill, it is important to take it as soon as you remember. If you miss a single dose of Levest,  it is unlikely to affect the effectiveness of the contraception. However, missing multiple doses will decrease the efficacy of Levest.

Taking Levest up to 12 hours after your usual time should not affect its effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.

In cases where it's been more than 12 hours, take the missed pill immediately and the next one at your usual time, even if it means taking two pills in one day. In these cases, it is recommended to use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days for maximum prevention of pregnancy. 

Yes, you are protected from pregnancy during the 7-day break from Levest. As long as you have taken your pills correctly before the break, the contraceptive effect continues through the pill-free interval. It is important to make sure to start the next pack on time to maintain protection.

There are several alternative oral contraceptive pills you could consider if Levest is not suitable:

• Yasmin or Lucette which contain ethinylestradiol and drospirenone
• Progestogen-only pills (mini-pill) such as Lovima, Cerelle and Cerazette (which contain desogestrel), Norida 350 mcg (which contains Norethisterone), and Norgeston (which contains Levonorgestrel).