Viorele

What is Viorele?

Viorele is a low-dose combined hormonal birth control pill that has two hormones in it: a progesterone and an estrogen. Because it contains less estrogen than other combined pills, it may cause fewer side effects for some women.

Viorele comes in a pack of 28 tablets. That’s where things get a little different. Viorele is a biphasic pill, which means you get two different doses of hormones throughout the month — in phases, if you will.

Your first 21 pills will be active pills. The next 2 are inactive. The last 5 pills in the pack are also active pills, but with a lower dose of estrogen than the first 21. You should take all of these pills in order, without skipping any.

How does Viorele work?

Like other combined pills, Viorele reduces your pregnancy risk in three ways.

The two hormones in it change the body’s hormone balance, to stop the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).

Viorele also thickens the mucus in the cervix which makes it harder for sperm to move through to the uterus to fertilize an egg, while the lining of the womb is made thinner. If the uterine lining is thinner, it’s less likely that a fertilized egg will be able to attach itself there, and develop.

When the lining of the uterus doesn’t build up as much, you may find that your periods are way lighter when you’re taking combined pills (so there are added benefits too).

How effective is Viorele?

Viorele is very effective, if you take it correctly. We’re talking more than 99% if you take it at the same time every day, without missing any pills.

So to put this into context, out of 100 women taking the pill over 12 months, less than one will get pregnant.

If you make mistakes when you take Viorele, or if you occasionally miss pills, its effectiveness decreases slightly (to around 91%). So about 9 women in every 100 will get pregnant in a year.

How to take Viorele pills

Viorele comes in packs of 28 pills. Take Viorele at the same time each day to ensure it’s as effective as possible. You should pick a good time that works for you before taking your first pill.

If you start to take Viorele on the first day of your period, your protection from pregnancy is immediate.

If your period has already started, begin taking Viorele on day five of your cycle whether your bleeding has stopped or not. You’ll need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the first seven days, while the pill takes effect in the body.

Take one pill at the same time every day, until you have used all 28 pills. You can swallow the pills with water if you’d prefer, but don’t chew them. After you’ve taken all 28 pills, start a new pack.

You should always read the information leaflet that comes with your treatment before using Viorele.

What to do about a Viorele missed pill

If less than 12 hours have passed since you missed a pill, don’t worry. Your protection from pregnancy shouldn’t be affected. Just take the pill you missed immediately (so two pills in one day if you have to).

For one missed white pill, take the missed pill as soon as you remember. If you missed two consecutive white pills in Week 1 or Week 2, take two pills the day you remember and two pills the next day. Use condoms or other back-up birth control for 7 days. And if you missed two consecutive white pills in Week 3 or three or more white pills in a row in any week, take one pill a day until the next Sunday. Then, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack. Use condoms or other back-up birth control for 7 days.