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Mercilon
Buy Mercilon birth control pills with discreet packaging and free shipping
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What is Mercilon?
Mercilon is a prescription birth control medication that is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy when used correctly. It can also regulate your menstrual cycle and reduce premenstrual symptoms (PMS).
This combined oral contraceptive pill contains two hormones; 150 mcg of desogestrel and 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol. This dosage combination is also available under the brand names Gedarel 20 and Bimizza.
How does Mercilon work?
The hormones in Mercilon work in three different ways:
- they prevent ovulation (the process involving your ovaries releasing an egg)
- they make the mucus in your cervix thicker, which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb
- they also thin the lining of the womb, making it difficult for a fertilised egg to implant itself here
What are the benefits?
Apart from being a highly effective form of contraception, Mercilon can also:
Another benefit is that it is convenient to take. It just involves taking one pill once a day and unlike barrier methods like condoms, it does not interrupt sexual activity.
Mercilon is a popular alternative to Marvelon, as it contains a lower dose of synthetic oestrogen, making it more suitable for women who are sensitive to this hormone.
How effective is Mercilon?
Mercilon is over 99% effective if taken correctly and consistently. However, in practice, it’s about 91% effective as people may forget to take the pill at the correct time or may take medication that interacts with it.
Who can and cannot use it?
Who can use this medicine?
Combined contraceptive pills are a good option for people who are looking for non-barrier contraception options.
We are able to supply Mercilon to women over the age of 18 after completing a free online consultation.
Who cannot use this medicine?
Do not use Mercilon if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in this medicine.
You should also avoid Mercilon if you have or have ever had any of the following:
- a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs, lungs, or other organs
- a disorder affecting your blood clotting
- heart problems such as a heart attack, stroke, or angina pectoris
- a type of migraine called ‘migraine with aura’
- severe liver disease, or a liver tumour
- inflammation of the pancreas
- known or suspected pregnancy
- cancer affected by sex hormones (e.g. breast, womb, or ovarian cancer)
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- hepatitis C and are taking antiviral medications
You must also speak to your doctor if you have any of the following diseases that may increase your risk of a clot in the arteries:
- severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
- very high blood pressure
- high cholesterol or triglycerides levels
- high levels of homocysteine in the blood
The combined pill is not recommended if you smoke and are over the age of 35. Talk to your doctor about other contraception options.
What dosages are available?
The typical dosage for Mercilon is one tablet taken daily, at the same time each day, for 21 consecutive days, followed by a 7-day pill-free interval.
Each active pill contains 150 mcg desogestrel and 20 mcg ethinylestradiol.
How and when should I use Mercilon?
How to take it
Mercilon comes in strips of 21 pills, each marked with a day of the week. To ensure you take this medication correctly you should:
- take one tablet once daily at the same time every day for 21 days, starting with the correct day of the week
- swallow each pill whole, with water (do not crush or chew the pill)
- after you have taken 21 pills, you have a seven-day break where you take no pills–during this time you should have a withdrawal bleed
- start taking your next strip of Mercilon after the seven pill-free days – even if you are still bleeding
Tip: "Remembering to take your contraceptive pill daily is important. To help with consistency, consider setting an alarm on your phone or pairing it with a routine task you do every day, like brushing your teeth."
When to take it
If you are starting Mercilon for the first time, you should ideally take the first pill on the first day of your period. By starting in this way, you will have contraceptive protection with your first pill.
However, you can start taking Mercilon at any time in your menstrual cycle. If you start taking it after the first 5 days of your period, you must also use extra contraception, such as condoms, until you have taken the first seven pills correctly.
Make sure to read the patient information leaflet thoroughly before you take Mercilon. You will find one included with your medication and a version you can download on this page.
How long do I use it for?
You may use the contraceptive pill for as long as you need to prevent pregnancy or manage other conditions like menstrual cramps or acne. However, it's important to check in with your doctor regularly to make sure it's still the right choice for you. If you want to stop taking the pill or switch to something else, talk to your doctor first.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
What you should do if you miss a pill or take a pill too late will depend on how late you are and how many pills you have missed.
Use our interactive tool below on what to do if you miss one or multiple pills in one month (menstrual cycle). Simply click to begin.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the pack as normal.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the pack as normal.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill and take the active (21) pills as per the normal schedule.
2) Skip the pill-free break.
3) Start the new pill pack straight away.
If your pill pack contains 21 tablets, your 4th week should be a pill-free week if you have not chosen to skip it. This means you should still be fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
The combined pill may not be as effective. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex for the following 7 days.
If you vomited within 3-4 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours before your usual pill time. As long as you are not sick again, you should still be protected against pregnancy. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the pack as normal.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the pack as normal.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill and take the active (21) pills as per normal schedule.
2) Skip the inactive (placebo) pills / the pill-free break.
3) Start the new pill pack straight away.
If you missed an inactive pill (placebo), in the 4th week of your cycle, you will still be protected from pregnancy.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
The combined pill may not be as effective. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex for the following 7 days.
If you vomited within 3-4 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours before your usual pill time. As long as you are not sick again, you should still be protected against pregnancy. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
The combined pill may not be as effective. If intercourse took place in the week prior, the possibility of a pregnancy should be considered. Contact a doctor for advice and consider using an emergency contraceptive method.
You should keep these key points about taking this pill in mind:
1) The more 'white active tablets' are missed and the closer the missed tablets are to the 4 yellow placebo tablets, the higher the risk of pregnancy.
2) 7 days of uninterrupted 'active tablet'-taking are required to attain adequate protection against pregnancy. If you have trouble remembering to take your pill consistently, you should speak to your doctor for advice.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the pack as normal.
Provided you have only missed one pill and taken the pills correctly the week prior, you should still be protected against pregnancy.
You should:
1) Take the missed pill or start a new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
If you have missed more than 1 tablet or have not taken the pills consistently the week pior, you should use a barrier contraceptive method for the following 7 days.
If you have missed a pill in the last week of active tablets, the risk of pregnancy is higher. You should still be protected if you have taken the active pills uninterrupted the 7 days before and you take the following advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
If you have missed more than 1 tablet or have not taken the pills consistently the week prior, you should use a barrier contraceptive method for the following 7 days.
If you missed one of the last 4 pills of the pill pack, it should have no impact as these are hormone-free pills. You should:
1) Dispose of the missed pill and take the next scheduled pill at the correct time, ensuring you don't go longer than 4 days before you start a new pack with active pills.
2) You can also start a new pill pack straight away. This changes the first day of your cycle.
If you had sex the week before missing your pill, you may be at risk of pregnancy. Contact your doctor for advice and consider using an emergency contraceptive method. You should also follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
The combined pill may not be as effective. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal. You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
If you vomited within 3-4 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours before your usual pill time. As long as you are not sick again, you should still be protected against pregnancy. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
You should still be protected against pregnancy if you experienced a few episodes of diarrhoea in a day/for less than 24 hours. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
The protection against pregnancy will not be reduced if it has been less 12 hours. But, you should still take the following advice to ensure protection:
1) Take the tablet as soon as you remember.
2) Then take the next tablets at the usual time.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up.
The protection against pregnancy will be reduced. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 9 days.
The protection against pregnancy may be reduced. For multiphasic pills, the advice on missed pills will depend on where in the cycle you are, and on which pill brand you are taking. Follow the advice below:
1) Always familiarise yourself with the instructions in the patient information leaflet (PIL) that comes with your pill packs.
2) Take note of when in your cycle you missed your pill - the advice will differ based on this.
- 2.1 At the beginning of your cycle you should take the missed pill and continue taking the pill as per the normal schedule. You should use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex the following 9 days to ensure protection against pregnancy.
- 2.2 If the missed pill was towards the end of your cycle you may be advised to skip the pill and start a new cycle (take the 1st pill of a new pill pack).
If you forget to take an inactive/placebo pill (the last pills in the pill pack), you do not need to take them later, as they do not contain active substances. But you should throw away the white tablet(s) you forgot to take, so that you do not prolong the period of inactive tablets. Prolongation may increase the risk of pregnancy. Continue to take the next tablet at the usual time. This is only relevant if you are taking a multiphasic pill with 28 pills (not 21).
If you vomited within 3 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours after your normal pill time. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
If you are less than 12 hours late, take the missed tablet as soon as possible, even if this means taking 2 tablets on the same day. This will ensure that contraceptive protection is maintained.
If you have missed a pill in the first week of your cycle, you should:
1) Take the last missed tablet as soon as possible and then continue to take the rest of the tablets in the normal manner.
2) Use extra contraceptive protection, such as a condom, or refrain from sex, for the next 7 days.
3) If you had sex in that 1st week (without additional contraception), you could become pregnant. Contact your doctor for advice as soon as possible. They may recommend you use emergency contraception. You should still continue taking your pill as normal.
If you are late by more than 12 hours, take the last missed tablet as soon as possible and then continue to take the rest of the tablets in the normal manner. In addition, use extra contraceptive protection, such as a condom for the next 7 days.
If you have fewer than seven tablets in your blister strip after you have missed taking a dose, you should:
1) Complete the blister strip and start the next blister strip without a break.
This will give you protection from when you took the last missed tablet. You may not have a period until the end of two blister strips, but this will not harm you. You may also have some bleeding on days when you take the tablets.
If you vomited within 3 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours after your normal pill time. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancies. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have missed more than one pill, you should:
1) Take the most recently missed pill and skip any previously missed pills.
2) Take your next pills as normal (this could mean taking two pills in one day)
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
4) If you had sex in that 1st week (without additional contraception), you could become pregnant. Contact your doctor for advice as soon as possible. They may recommend you use emergency contraception. You should still continue taking your pill as normal.
If you have missed more than one pill, you should:
1) Take the most recent missed pill (skip any previously missed pills)
2) Take your next pills as normal (this could mean taking two pills in one day)
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
If you missed a pill and have less than 7 pills left of your pack, you should:
1) Take the most recent missed pill (skip any previously missed pills)
2) Take your next pills as normal (this could mean taking two pills in one day)
3) When you finish the strip of pills, start the next strip the next day without a break.
4) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
5) If you do not have a withdrawal bleed after you have finished the second strip, do a pregnancy test before starting another strip.
The desogestrel pill may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the less effective your contraception is. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can (as long as it is taken within 12 hours of your normal time).
2) Continue the pack as normal.
The desogestrel pill may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the less effective your contraception is. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and consider using an emergency contraceptive. Please note you should continue taking the pill as normal if you have used emergency contraception.
The desogestrel pill may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the less effective your contraception is. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
If you vomited within 3 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 12 hours after your normal pill time. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the mini pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
Your contraception may not be as effective. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the last missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
You will not be protected against pregnancy if you have missed more than 2 pills. Unless a pregnancy can be ruled out, you should stop taking it until it can be confirmed (e.g. from a pregnancy test). If pregnancy can be ruled out, follow the advice below:
1) Continue taking the pill where you left off (or start a new pill pack).
2) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
3) After seven days of taking the pill at a regular time, you will be protected again.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the pill as soon as you can (no later than 3 hours from your normal time)
2) Continue the pack as normal.
Your contraception may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the less effective your contraception is. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and consider using an emergency contraceptive. Please note you should continue taking the pill as normal if you have used emergency contraception.
Your contraception may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the less effective your contraception is. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 2 days.
If you vomited within 2 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 3 hours after your normal pill time. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the mini pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
Your contraception may not be as effective. You should follow the below advice:
1) The more pills you have missed, the more the effect against pregnancy is reduced.
2) Take the last missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
3) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
4) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
5) If this happened in the 1st week of the cycle (one or more of the first 7 pills), and you had sex the week before, you may be pregnant. Speak to your doctor for advice.
You are still fully protected, as long as you:
1) Take the pill as soon as you can (no later than 24 hours from your normal time).
2) Continue the pack as normal.
Your contraception may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the more the effecicacy reduced. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
You should still be protected against pregnancy as long as you:
1) Take the missed pill and take the rest of the active pills as per normal schedule (24 pills).
2) Skip the 4 inactive (placebo) pills and start the new pill pack straight away.
You will now have a different start day of your cycle.
If you missed one of the last 4 pills of the pill pack it should have no impact (as these are hormone-free pills). You should:
1) Dispose of the missed pill and take the next scheduled pill at the correct time.
2) Be aware that only a specific type of mini pill brands contain inactive pills, and these should be clearly indicated and have a different colour to the rest of the pills (containing hormones). The instructions will be different if you have missed an active pill.
You may be at risk of pregnancy. Please see your own doctor for advice and follow-up. They may suggest you use a form of emergency contraception. You can continue taking your pills as normal if you have used an emergency contraception. You should also use a barrier method (such as a condom) if you have sex over the next 7 days.
Your contraception may not be as effective. The more pills you forget to take, the more the effecicacy reduced. You should follow the below advice:
1) Take the missed pill or start the new pill pack as soon as you can.
2) Continue the rest of the pack as normal (at your normal time). You may need to take two pills in one day.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following 7 days.
If you vomited within 3-4 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill no longer than 24 hours after your normal pill time. If you are sick again or you do not take a new pill, your contraception will not be effective. If that is the case, retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you experienced severe diarrhoea within 3 hours of taking the pill, you should take a new pill as soon as you can, and after no longer than 24 hours than your normal pill time. As long as you are feeling better and do not continue having diarrhoea, you should still be protected against pregnancy.
If you had severe diarrhoea within 3-4 hours of taking your pill and you have not taken a new one (within 24 hours of the normal pill time), or continue to have diarrhoea, you may not be protected. Retake this quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
You should still be protected against pregnancy. Take your next pill as per your usual schedule.
If you have had severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, the pill may not have been fully absorbed and therefore may not be as effective. You should treat every 24 hours of severe diarrhoea as a missed pill. Retake the quiz and follow the advice for a missed pill.
On rare occasions, the contraceptive vaginal ring can break. Vaginal damage has been reported in connection with the ring breaking. If you discover that your ring has broken, follow the below advice:
1) Dispose of that ring and insert a new ring as soon as possible.
2) Use additional contraception (eg a male condom) for the next 7 days.
3) Contact your doctor if you had intercourse before you discovered that the ring was broken.
If you are being sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea, the contraceptive ring is still effective (unlike when you are taking the pill).
If you are being sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea, the contraceptive ring is still effective (unlike when you are taking the pill).
If your ring-free break was no longer than 7 days, you are still protected from pregnancy. You should follow the below advice:
1) Put the new ring in as soon as possible (at your normal insertion time)
2) Replace the ring as per your normal schedule (1 ring should be replaced every seven days, at the same time)
If the ring-free break was longer than 7 days, you may not be protected against pregnancy. The longer the ring-free break lasts, the higher the risk of becoming pregnant. Follow the below advice:
1) Insert a new ring as soon as you remember.
2) Use additional contraception (such as a male condom) if you have intercourse in the next 7 days.
3) If you had intercourse during the ring-free break, there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. Talk to your doctor immediately and consider using a form of emergency contraception.
If the ring has been out of the vagina for less than 3 hours, it will still protect you from pregnancy. You should follow the below advice:
1) Wash the ring in cold or lukewarm water (do not use hot water).
2) Put the ring back in as soon as possible.
3) Replace the ring as per your normal schedule (1 ring should be replaced every seven days, at the same time).
You may not be protected against pregnancy. Take a pregnancy test and consult a doctor before inserting a new ring.
If the ring has been out of the vagina for more than 3 hours, you may not be protected against pregnancy. You should:
1) Wash the ring in cold or lukewarm water (do not use hot water)
2) Reinsert the ring into the vagina as soon as you remember, and leave the ring in place without interruption for at least 7 days.
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days.
4) If you are in your 1st week and you had intercourse in the previous 7 days, there is a possibility that you could be pregnant. In this case, you must contact your doctor.
You may not be protected against pregnancy. You should dispose of that ring and choose one of the following two possibilities:
1) Insert a new ring immediately.
2) This will start the next 3-week period with the ring.
3) You may not have a period, but breakthrough bleeding and spotting may occur.
OR
1) Do not insert a new ring.
2) Have a period first and insert a new ring no later than 7 days from the time the previous ring was removed or fell out.
3) You should only choose this option if you have used NuvaRing continuously for the last 7 days.
If you are being sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea, the contraceptive patch is still effective (unlike when you are taking the pill).
If you are being sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea, the contraceptive patch is still effective (unlike when you are taking the pill).
Follow the below advice to ensure you are still protected:
1) Try to attach it again or put on a new transdermal patch immediately (so it has been off for less than 24 hours).
2) Use a new patch if the other one is no longer sticky, has stuck together or to something or if it's fallen off before (do not attempt to use tape or wraps to stick the old one back on).
3) Your "patch change day" must remain unchanged.
The patch may not be as effective. The longer you have been without the patch, the less effective your contraception will be. You should follow the advice below:
1) Immediately start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new transdermal patch.
2) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days (the 1st week of the new cycle).
The patch may not be as effective. The longer you have been without the patch, the less effective your contraception will be. You should follow the advice below:
1) Immediately start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new transdermal patch.
2) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days (the 1st week of the new cycle).
Follow the below advice to ensure you are still protected:
1) Try to attach it again or put on a new transdermal patch immediately (so it has been off for less than 24 hours).
2) Use a new patch if the other one is no longer sticky, has stuck together or to something or if it's fallen off before (do not attempt to use tape or wraps to stick the old one back on).
3) Your "patch change day" must remain unchanged.
The patch may not be as effective. The longer you have been without the patch, the less effective your contraception will be. You should follow the advice below:
1) Immediately start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new transdermal patch.
2) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days (the 1st week of the new cycle).
The patch may not be as effective. The longer you have been without the patch, the less effective your contraception will be. You should follow the advice below:
1) Immediately start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new transdermal patch.
2) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
3) Use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days (the 1st week of the new cycle).
If you forget to put on the transdermal patch in your cycle's 1st week, you may have a particularly high risk of becoming pregnant. Follow the advice below:
1) You must use additional non-hormonal contraception for one week (seven days).
2) Put on the first patch of the new cycle as soon as you remember.
3) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
If you are on the 4th week of the cycle, you should still be protected against pregnancies. If you left the patch on for too long (forgot to remove it), take it off as soon as you remember. Follow the below advice to stay protected:
1) Start the next cycle on the usual "patch change day", the day after day 28.
2) Continue replacing them weekly, on the same day at the same time.
3) There is no need for additional contraception.
You should still be protected, provided you follow the below advice:
1) Attach a new patch as soon as you remember (within 48 hours).
2) Replace the following patch on the usual "patch change day".
3) No additional contraception is necessary.
If you forget to change the patch for more than 2 days, you can become pregnant. The longer you have been without the patch, the lower the effectiveness will be. You should follow the advice below:
1) Immediately start a new 4-week cycle by applying a new patch.
2) You now have a new day 1 and a new "patch change day".
3) You must use a barrier contraceptive method if you have sex, for the following seven days (1st week of cycle).
If you have only missed one pill and it has been less than 12 hours:
Take the missed pill as soon as you remember and take your next pill at your usual time. This might mean taking 2 pills in one day.
If you have only missed more than one pill or it has been more than 12 hours:
You may not be protected against pregnancy. In this case, you should take the most recent pill you have missed straight away and take your next pill at your usual time. This might mean taking 2 pills in one day.
Continue taking your pill as normal and use an additional method of contraception (such as condoms) for the next 7 days.
You should also check how many pills you have left in the pack. If you have less than 7 pills in your current pack, you should finish these pills then, skip the pill break and start taking the pills in your next pack straight away.
If you have more than 7 pills in your current pack, you should continue taking your pills as normal including taking a pill break.
If you vomit or have very bad diarrhoea your body may not get its usual dose of hormones from that pill. If this happens within 3 to 4 hours after taking your pill, take a new pill as soon as possible, and within the 24-hour window from your normal pill-taking time. If you are unable to do so, you should treat this as a missed pill.
How long does Mercilon take to work?
If you start taking Mercilon on day 1 of your menstrual cycle (the first day of your period) up until day 5, it will work straight away. This means that you will be protected from pregnancy immediately.
If you start taking it after the 5th day of your menstrual cycle, you will need to take 7 active pills in a row before you are protected from pregnancy. You should use additional protection or avoid sex until you have done this.
What should I do while using Mercilon?
The following may help to ensure the pill remains effective or may help with any potential side effects you might experience:
- Check-in with your doctor regularly
- Regular checkups ensure that Mercilon is still the best contraceptive method for you.
- Use condoms to prevent STIs
- Hormonal contraceptives don’t prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Consider using condoms during sex to lower your risk of STIs. Condoms also help add protection against pregnancy.
- Tell your healthcare providers about your medications
- If you’re going to have any surgery, make sure your doctor knows that you take the pill. You may need to stop taking it before the operation to reduce the risk of a blood clot.
What are Mercilon’s side effects?
Birth control pills are usually well-tolerated, but all medications come with the risk of side effects. These are usually mild and occur while your body is getting adjusted to the hormones.
The most common side effects of Mercilon may affect up to 1 in 10 people and are listed in the table below:
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Some women report feelings of depression when on contraceptive pills. If you experience very serious mood changes or depressive symptoms, get in touch with your GP as soon as possible.
If you experience any persistent or serious side effects, you should see your doctor immediately. These may include:
- A blood clot in a vein (usually in the leg) with symptoms such as:
- swelling of the leg
- pain or tenderness in the leg when standing or walking
- a feeling of warmth in the leg
- a change in colour of the skin on the leg e.g. turning pale, red or blue
- A blood clot in an artery in the lung with symptoms including:
- sudden unexplained breathlessness or rapid breathing
- a sudden cough without an obvious cause
- sharp chest pain
- severe lightheadedness or dizziness
- a rapid or irregular heartbeat
- severe pain in your stomach
- A severe allergic reaction with symptoms such as:
- swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat
For a full list of potential side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.
Does Mercilon interact with any other medicines?
There are a few medications that will interact with Mercilon. This is why you should always inform your doctor about any other medications or supplements you are currently taking.
The following medications may affect how Mercilon works:
- medicines for epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoins, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and more)
- antibiotics e.g. rifampicin
- antiretroviral medications (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine and efavirenz)
- Hepatitis C medications (e.g. boceprevir and telaprevir)
- antifungals (e.g. griseofulvin)
- Bosentan (for pulmonary arterial hypertension)
- some herbal remedies (e.g. St. John’s wort)
Tell your doctor if you’re taking any of these medications, as they may be able to recommend a suitable and effective alternative.
What safety advice should be followed when using Mercilon?
For more information, refer to the safety information table below:
| Category | Status | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Safe | Alcohol does not affect the overall effectiveness of your birth control. |
| Pregnancy | Avoid | Do not use Mercilon if you are pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, do a pregnancy test to confirm this before you stop taking Mercilon. |
| Breastfeeding | Avoid | Mercilon is not recommended for use during breast-feeding. Ask your doctor about alternative contraception methods. |
| Driving | Safe | This medicine has no known effect on the ability to drive or use machines. |
How should this medicine be stored and disposed of?
How to store
Store Mercilon below 25°C in its original package to protect from light and moisture. Make sure it is kept out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use Mercilon after the expiry date stated on the carton.
Disposal
Take any unused or expired medicines to your nearest pharmacy to dispose of them safely. Do not throw away any medicines in your household waste or flush them down the toilet.
Can I buy Mercilon over the counter?
No, you cannot buy this medicine over the counter. Mercilon is a prescription-only medication, which means that you need a prescription to obtain it.
Can I buy Mercilon online?
Yes, you can buy Mercilon pills from euroClinix, our doctors are also trained to initiate the contraceptive pill if you have not been prescribed it before. Ordering your medication is simple and secure. Follow these steps:
- Start a confidential online questionnaire from the top of this page. It will take about 5-10 minutes to complete.
- A UK-registered doctor will review your consultation.
- If approved, the doctor will issue an electronic prescription.
- A licensed UK pharmacy will send your medication in discreet packaging. The pharmacy will also share tracking information. You get free next-day delivery.
euroClinix offers ongoing support for any questions. Privacy and security are guaranteed through compliance with the relevant regulatory standards and the use of encrypted transactions.
Why should I choose euroClinix?
euroClinix is a trusted online clinic that offers services in several European countries. All consultations and prescriptions are handled by our UK-registered doctors.
The process is convenient with online consultations and discreet home delivery. Our friendly customer service team is always happy to assist with any questions related to our services.
The euroClinix platform is user-friendly for managing prescriptions and reorders securely.
Choosing euroClinix ensures a trusted, professional, and supportive service for all your contraceptive needs.
What alternatives are available?
There are many contraceptive options available. The closest alternative to Mercilon would be Marvelon. Marvelon contains the same ingredients however, a higher dose of ethinyl estradiol (30 micrograms).
At euroClinix, we have a variety of other combined oral contraceptives depending on your needs.
We also have other contraceptive methods available including the progestogen-only pill (or ‘mini pill’), the vaginal ring, and the contraceptive patch.
Mercilon FAQs
Note: You must complete a short online consultation so that our doctor can ensure that the treatment is suitable for you. The above pricing should only be used as a reference. The final decision to issue this treatment lies with the prescribing doctor.
| Type of medicine | Combined oral contraceptive (COC) |
| Used for | Contraception in adult women |
| Active ingredient(s) | Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel |
| Works by | Preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus |
| Effective within | Immediately if taken on the first day of the period. Otherwise, after 7 active pills are taken consecutively |
| Suitable for | Women aged 18 or older |
| Available as | Tablets |
| Available strength | Ethinyl estradiol 20 micrograms + desogestrel 150 micrograms |
| Usage | Take 1 tablet per day for 21 days followed by a 7-day break |
| Packaging | 21 tablets |
| Manufacturer | Organon Pharma |
| Is a generic available? | No |
| Storage | Store below 25°C in its original package |
| Prescription required? | Yes, get it with our online consultation |
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Further reading
Understanding and managing side effects of the pill
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