Combined pill

Often just called “the pill”, the combined pill is a type of female contraception that prevents pregnancy. It gets its name because it contains a combination of two hormones; progestogen and oestrogen.

• It protects against pregnancy but not sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To protect against STIs you will also need to use a barrier method of contraception such as condoms
• It is over 97% effective if taken correctly
• There are three different types and many different brands
• With each type or brand you usually experience a monthly “withdrawal bleed”
• It can help if your periods are heavy or painful
• It can help premenstrual symptoms (PMS)
• It can help with acne
• There are things that can affect how effective it is (such as vomiting, diarrhoea and other medications)
• It can cause side effects when you first start taking it

You can get the contraceptive pill from Umbrella clinics and pharmacies, and GPs can prescribe the pill for you.