Most women take one pill per day for 21 days, then take a four or seven-day break before starting the next pack. You’re likely to experience a withdrawal bleed during this time. This looks like a period, but it isn’t.

Mercilon can also be taken as follows:

Tricycling: Take one pill every day for nine weeks without stopping. Take a 4 or 7-day break after 9 weeks (3 packs of pills) and then restart the cycle.

Take 1 pill every day without missing a dose.

Take 1 pill every day for at least 21 days for a flexible extended use. Take a four-day break if you experience excessive bleeding. Start taking the pill every day on the fifth day, and don’t take another break for at least 21 days.

Mercilon contains hormones that prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg (desogestrel and ethinylestradiol) (ovulation). They also make it more difficult for sperm to reach an egg or for an egg to implant in the womb lining.

Mercilon is 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. Approximately 9 out of 100 women will become pregnant if it is not always taken correctly.

You may not be protected against pregnancy if you are vomiting or have severe diarrhoea. Continue to take the pill as usual if this happens, but use a condom while you’re sick. If this lasts longer than 24 hours, you should take the same steps as if you missed a pill.

Please keep in mind that you should only begin Mercilon if you are certain you are not pregnant.

How long will you be protected after taking Mercilon?

Many women have no side effects, but some have more irregular bleeding when taking a low-dose pill. This usually clears up after a few months. Headaches, nausea, breast discomfort, and mood swings are some of the other side effects. Blood clots occur in a small percentage of women. The risk of blood clots is slightly higher with this pill than with others. Send us a message through your Patient Record if you have any concerns.

See the patient information leaflet for a complete list of side effects and how to use it correctly. If you have any concerns about side effects, please contact us through your Patient Record.