Zoely Contraceptive Pill

Zoely is a combined contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy. It works by changing your hormone levels, which affects your monthly cycle. It was approved in Europe in July 2011.

Zoely is different from other pills because it contains estradiol, which is a more natural form of oestrogen. Most common pill brands, like Microgynon or Yasmin, contain ethinylestradiol.

Before Zoely, Qlaira was the only pill available with natural oestrogen. However, unlike Qlaira, Zoely is monophasic. This means the dose of hormones in each pill is the same.

Zoely prevents pregnancy by changing your hormone levels. This prevents the things that need to happen for a pregnancy, including:

• Ovulation - your ovaries release an egg into the womb to be fertilised.
• Womb lining thickening to prepare to implant the fertilised egg.
• Cervical mucus thinning to make it easier for the sperm to enter the womb.

Throughout your menstrual cycle, the levels of sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall to trigger these different reproductive processes.

Zoely contains a natural oestrogen and a synthetic progesterone. So, when you take the pill, you supplement these hormones to keep their levels stable. This means none of these critical processes ever happen and therefore you cannot get pregnant.

Zoely has several benefits when it comes to contraception.

• It is highly effective - it is over 99% effective with perfect use, meaning you won’t have to worry about pregnancy while using it.
• It is a pill you take once a day - it is easier to use than other contraceptive methods like the ring or an injectable, and less invasive than the IUD.
• It contains a natural oestrogen - estradiol is a less potent natural oestrogen. This means it has a lower risk of side effects than other pills that contain synthetic oestrogens.

Contraception has to work with your lifestyle. So, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of each method before starting a new contraceptive.

Zoely is over 99% effective when used correctly. This is sometimes known as perfect use. However, with typical use, it is around 93% effective. This means 7 in every 100 women will get pregnant on Zoely.

When to start taking it

Start taking Zoely on the first day of your cycle. This means it will be effective immediately and you won’t need to use additional contraception.

If you start it any other time, you will need to use barrier contraception (e.g. condoms) or not have sex for at least 7 days.

Switching to Zoely from another contraceptive

If you are switching to Zoely and you were previously using a different contraceptive, the advice on when to start will depend on which contraceptive you previously used.

• A combined pill - Start taking Zoely after the last pill and skip the pill-free week. If your previous pill also has active and inactive pills, skip the inactive pills.
• A progestogen-only pill (mini-pill) - You can stop taking the mini-pill any day and immediately start taking Zoely. However, you will need to use barrier contraception for at least 7 days or not have sex.
• The patch or ring - Start taking Zoely on the day you remove the patch or ring or on the day you would normally change to the next ring or patch.
• The hormonal IUD, copper IUD or progestogen-only injectable - Start taking Zoely on the day the IUD is removed or on the day your next injectable is due. You will need to use barrier contraception for at least 7 days or not have sex.

After having a baby

You should start taking Zoely between days 21 and 28 after having your baby.

If you start later than day 28, you will need to use barrier contraception for the first 7 days of taking Zoely. If you have just had a miscarriage, ask your doctor for advice on taking Zoely.

If you are not sure when to start taking Zoely, always ask your doctor or pharmacist.

When to take it

You need to take Zoely every day for it to be effective. You do not need to take it at the exact same time each day. However, it’s a good idea to take it around the same time to help you remember.

You could set a reminder on your phone to remind you to take it daily or download an app that helps remember your pill schedule.

How to take it

Each strip of Zoely contains 28 pills: 24 active pills which contain hormones and 4 inactive pills. The active pills are white and the inactive ‘placebo’ pills are yellow.

You must take the 24 active pills and then the 4 inactive pills. Each blister pack is numbered to help you take the pills correctly.

You do not take a pill-free week like other contraceptive pills. Once you finish a strip, you must start a new strip the next day. You should have a withdrawal bleed (period) whilst taking the 4 inactive pills.

Each pack also comes with stickers of the days of the week to help you take your pill correctly. If you start taking Zoely on a Wednesday for example, choose the sticker that starts with Wednesday and place it at the top of the blister pack.

What happens if I miss a pill?

A missed Zoely pill is a pill that is more than 12 hours late. This also includes if you have had persistent vomiting or diarrhoea for 12 hours or more.

The advice is different depending on when you miss a pill. You are at a higher risk of pregnancy if you miss pills at the beginning of the pack or towards the end.

Use our tool below to find out what to do if you have forgotten to take Zoely.

Please note: this missed pill advice is for Zoely only. If you take another combined contraceptive pill, you can use our handy missed pill tool here.

Zoely is suitable for most women who can become pregnant. However, your doctor will want to monitor your health whilst on Zoely. This includes monitoring your weight, blood pressure and lifestyle habits.

Some women may be more at risk of side effects so may not be eligible.

Who cannot take Zoely?

If you have any of the following conditions, you must not use Zoely. This is because there is a very high risk of side effects if you take it.

Do not take Zoely if you:

• have ever had a blood clot in the legs, lungs or other organs
• have a disorder that affects your blood clotting
• need an operation or have been off your feet for a long time
• have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage
• have very high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• have ever had a migraine with aura
• have ever had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) due to high levels of fat in your blood
• have ever had severe liver disease or a tumour in your liver
• have ever had cancer of the breast or genital organs (e.g. cervical, vaginal, vulvar, ovarian or uterine cancers)
• have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• are allergic to estradiol, nomegestrol or any of the other ingredients

Your doctor will advise you on what birth control options are safe for you to take.

Cautions

Some other women may be able to take it but may need specialist advice or regular monitoring to ensure it’s safe for them to take.

This includes if you:

• carry the breast cancer gene mutations BRCA1 or BRCA2
• have experienced cholestasis during pregnancy or whilst on combined hormonal contraception
• have gallbladder disease
• have inflammatory bowel disease
• have a family history of high triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood

You will also need to be cautious if you have any risk factors for cardiovascular disease or blood clots (venous thromboembolism).

Our doctors at euroClinix will be able to know if it’s suitable for you when you complete our consultation form about your medical history before prescribing you the medication.

If you have multiple risk factors, you will need to consult your doctor before using Zoely.

Like all prescription medicines, Zoely may cause some side effects. However, the most common side effects are mild and should go away on their own once your body adjusts to the medicine.

Mild side effects can also be managed with simple lifestyle tips. Staying hydrated and taking probiotics will help with diarrhoea and vomiting.

However, if your symptoms don’t go away or you experience more severe side effects, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Uncommon side effects

These side effects should go away on their own once you finish treatment. However, consult your doctor.

Rare side effects

Rare side effects may affect 1 in every 1,000 people who take this medicine.

However, the risk is low if you do not have any risk factors for these conditions. Your doctor will decide if it’s safe for you to take.

For a full list of potential side effects, please consult the patient information leaflet.

Zoely can interact with other medicines you take.

Some medicines may alter how Zoely works, how effective it is or may cause side effects when used together.

This includes:

• medicines for epilepsy
• medicines for tuberculosis
• medicines for HIV infections
• ketoconazole (an anti-fungal)

Always consult your doctor before using Zoely if you take any other medicines.

How do I store Zoely?

This medicine does not have any specific storage requirements. However, you should keep it out of sight and reach of children.

You should also not use it past the expiry date. You can see the expiry date on the medicine carton after EXP. The date refers to the last day of the month.

Do not discard expired medicines in general waste or in the toilet. This is bad for the environment. Take your expired medicines to your local pharmacy to dispose.

No, Zoely is not available over the counter. It is only available via prescription from a registered doctor. This is so the doctor can ensure the medicine is safe for you to use. However, if you cannot get to your GP, you can get a prescription from an online healthcare provider such as euroClinix.

Ordering Zoely through euroClinix is simple and secure. Follow these steps:

• Start a confidential online questionnaire from the top of this page. Completing it takes about 5-10 minutes.
• A UK-registered doctor will review your consultation.
• If approved, the doctor will issue an electronic prescription.
• A licensed UK pharmacy sends your medication in discreet packaging. The pharmacy will also share tracking information. You get free with 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.

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.

The main low-dose alternative pill to Zoely is Qlaira.

Qlaira also contains estradiol. However, it is a multiphasic pill. This means that the dose of hormones varies throughout the pack to try and replicate your natural cycle.

Zoely, however, is monophasic. It has the same dose of hormones across all of the active pills. Below is a full comparison of the two.

As well as other combined pills, there are a myriad of contraception options available. You can take our contraception quiz to learn more about what option is best for your lifestyle.