Marvelon

Marvelon works by stopping the release of an egg from the ovaries, thereby reducing the chance of fertilisation. Marvelon also thickens the mucous membranes at the entry of the uterus to prevent sperm from reaching the uterus, and alters the uterus lining, making it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant itself.

Marvelon works immediately to prevent pregnancy if it is used on days 1–5 of a typical menstrual cycle. If it is used on any other day of the menstrual cycle, or if you have an irregular period cycle, it can take up to 7 days for Marvelon to be effective at preventing pregnancy, in which case it is advisable to use barrier contraceptives such as condoms.  

Take one Marvelon pill each day, swallowing it whole with water, for 21 consecutive days at the same time each day. After this, take a 7-day break from taking Marvelon before starting the next pack. It is advisable to take the pill at the same time each day to ensure maximum effectiveness.

If taken correctly and at the same time every day, Marvelon can be up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, if pills are missed repeatedly, the effectiveness of Marvelon will reduce.

You should not take Marvelon, or you should speak to your GP before doing so if any of the following apply to you:

• You have a disorder that affects blood clotting
• You need to undergo surgery
• You will be immobile for long periods
• You have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• You have (or have ever had) angina pectoris (a condition that causes severe chest pain)
• You have severe diabetes
• You have high blood pressure
• You have a very high level of fat (cholesterol or triglycerides) in the blood
• You have or have had severe migraines (migraines with aura)
• You have or have recently had a severe liver disease
• You have had a liver tumour in the past
• You have or have had pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas)
• You are pregnant or suspect you might be pregnant
• You have breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer
• You have vaginal bleeding that has not been explained by your doctor
• You are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in Marvelon (see the patient information leaflet for a full list of ingredients)

Marvelon does not stop periods. However, during the 7-day break of taking Marvelon, hormone levels will drop, causing you to experience a withdrawal bleed which mimics a regular period but is generally lighter than regular periods.

If you forget to take a Marvelon pill and it has been less than 12 hours from the usual time you take it, take the missed pill as soon as you remember, then continue taking one pill per day as you normally do at the usual time on each day. The effectiveness of Marvelon should not be compromised if you take a missed dose within 12 hours of the time you were supposed to take it.

If 12 or more hours have elapsed since you forgot to take a Marvelon pill, or if you have missed taking more than one pill, take the most recent missed pill immediately, and continue taking the remaining pills as you normally do (once per day at the same time on each day). This may mean taking two pills in one day if you remember the missed dose on the day of your next scheduled pill. In such cases, it is recommended to use barrier contraceptives for at least 7 days after the missed dose to reduce the risk of pregnancy.

If you miss a pill in the last week of the pack and have fewer than 7 pills left, finish the pack and start a new one immediately, without a break. If there are more than 7 pills left, continue as normal, but ensure you use additional methods of contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days.

Marvelon, like other combined oral contraceptive pills, may cause weight gain in some individuals. Weight changes may result from fluid retention or changes in appetite and lifestyle. However, significant weight gain is rare and varies among individuals. 

Marvelon and Gedarel are both combined oral contraceptive pills containing ethinylestradiol and desogestrel, but they differ in dosage. Marvelon contains 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and 150 micrograms of desogestrel, while Gedarel offers two versions: Gedarel 30/150 with the same dosage as Marvelon, and Gedarel 20/150 with a lower dose of 20 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and 150 micrograms of desogestrel, potentially resulting in different side effect profiles.

Gedarel and Mercilon are medically equivalent to Marvelon as they both contain the same active ingredients as Marvelon (ethinylestradiol and desogestrel). Like Marvelon, Gedarel and Mercilon prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and thin the uterine lining to prevent egg implantation. The only difference between Marvelon, Gedarel and Mercilon is the manufacturer, branding and dosage levels. 

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

• Yasmin or Lucette, which contain ethinylestradiol and drospirenone.
• Rigevidon, Microgynon 30, and Levest, which contain levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol.
• Progestogen-only pills (mini-pills) such as Lovima, Cerelle, and Cerazette (which contain desogestrel), Noriday 350 mcg (which contains norethisterone), and Norgeston (which contains levonorgestrel).