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All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
All medications from licensed pharmacies
GPhC reg. no. 1120610
Mercilon is the brand name of a women’s contraceptive pill.
Mercilon is a combined oral contraceptive pill, also known as a hormonal contraceptive pill. Mercilon contains two active ingredients, ethinylestradiol and desogestrel. Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel are synthetic versions of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, both of which occur naturally in a woman’s body,
Mercilon over rides the normal menstrual cycle of a woman. The hormones that are in the medication fool the body into believing that ovulation has already happened and this prevents the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries.
Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel also cause an increase in the thickness of the mucus in the womb. This means that it is more difficult for sperm to get to there and reach an egg. Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel affect the womb’s lining. This means that it is less likely that a fertilised egg can be implanted.
Taking Mercilon normally results in a woman having less painful, more regular, and lighter periods. Mercilon is sometimes prescribed to women who have problems with their periods, particularly if the periods are heavy, painful or irregular.
Mercilon is a monophasic pill, which put simply, means that each pill contains the same dose of hormones. A single pill is taken daily for three weeks, after which you have a weeklong break. During this break, hormone levels in your blood drop. This results in a ‘withdrawal bleed’, which is similar to a normal period. Taking Mercilon should be recommenced after a week.
Women with a history of blood disorders or blood clotting should not be prescribed Mercilon; neither should women with high blood pressure, angina or high cholesterol levels. Women who smoke more than forty cigarettes a day cannot take Mercilon.
Your doctor will look carefully at your complete medical history and decide whether Mercilon is a suitable contraceptive for you to take before prescribing it.
All medicines can cause side effects. The possible side effects of Mercilon include:
