Femulen
Femulen, also known as the mini-pill or progestogen-only pill, is an oral contraceptive that uses synthetic progestogen to prevent pregnancy. As it only contains one hormone, it poses fewer risks than combined oral contraceptives and is generally safe for women who are breastfeeding or over 35.
How Does Femulen Work?
Pfizer's Femulen works in two ways. First, it thickens the cervical mucus so that sperm have difficulty entering the uterus. Secondly, it alters the lining of the womb so that a fertilised egg cannot implant and grow.
Femulen Dosage
A course of Femulen contains 28 pills, and each pill has 500 micrograms of etynodiol diacetate, a synthetic progestogen.
How Often is Femulen Taken?
You should take one Femulen pill per day, at the same time every day. If you miss your scheduled dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you are more than three hours late in taking the pill, use condoms as backup contraception for the next seven days. There are no breaks with Femulen as there are with combined oral contraceptives. At the end of your 28-day course, you should immediately start a new packet of pills.
How Effective is Femulen?
The mini-pill is only slightly less effective than combined oral contraceptives. When taken as directed, Femulen is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
Femulen Side Effects
Minor side effects are usually the result of a new user adjusting to the medication and can include nausea, vomiting, breast tenderness, headaches, skin changes, weight gain, dizziness and changes in sex drive. Changes in menstrual bleeding, such as irregular bleeding or no bleeding at all, may also occur. If any of these side effects continue or become unbearable, ask your doctor if you should switch to a different method of contraception.
Because it does not contain oestrogen, Femulen does not pose the same serious risks as combined oral contraceptives. However, stop taking Femulen and notify your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- severe headache
- chest pains
- pain or swelling in one leg
- yellowing of the skin
- itching all over the body
- rise in blood pressure
- difficulty breathing
What Other Medications Affect Femulen?
Always inform your doctor or pharmacist of any medications you are currently taking before beginning Femulen. Medications that may interfere with the efficacy of Femulen include
- St. John’s Wort
- protease inhibitors
- barbiturates
- antiarthritic drugs
- antibiotics
- antiepileptic drugs
Any medicines that cause severe vomiting or diarrhoea can make Femulen less effective. Use a backup method of contraception during any bouts of vomiting or diarrhoea and for two days after the symptoms have stopped.
Femulen may interfere with antidiabetic medications. If you are diabetic, notify your doctor if unusual changes in your blood sugar occur while taking this pill.
Who Should Not Take Femulen?
Do not take Femulen if you have any of the following conditions:
- hereditary blood disorders
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- breast cancer
- confirmed pregnancy
Use Femulen with caution if you have
- liver or gallbladder disease
- history of blood clot, stroke, angina or heart attack
- diabetes
- migraines
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- systemic lupus erythematosus
