Femodene ED Tablets

Consistent Habit, Continuous Protection

Breaking the daily routine of tablet-taking during a pill-free week might seem like a minor inconvenience, but for some women it is a genuine source of confusion, missed pills, and anxiety about whether they are still protected. Femodene ED addresses this with a straightforward solution: a 28-day pack that contains both active and inactive tablets, so you take a pill every single day without interruption. Femodene ED is a combined oral contraceptive pill licensed in the United Kingdom for the prevention of pregnancy. It contains ethinylestradiol and gestodene, and is designed to be taken as a continuous 28-day cycle with no breaks. This page explains how it works, how to take it correctly, who it is and is not suitable for, and how to access it through a clinical consultation at Pharmacy Planet.

The ED in the name stands for every day. Unlike standard combined pills that involve 21 active tablets followed by a seven-day gap, Femodene ED contains 21 active tablets and seven inactive placebo tablets. You take all 28 in sequence, then start the next pack immediately. Some women find this format helps them stay on a consistent daily schedule, reducing the risk of restarting a new pack late.

Femodene ED is a combined oral contraceptive tablet manufactured by Bayer plc. Each active tablet contains ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and gestodene 75 micrograms. Ethinylestradiol is a synthetic oestrogen. Gestodene is a synthetic progestogen belonging to the third-generation class of progestogens. The seven inactive tablets in each pack contain no hormones and are included solely to maintain the unbroken daily pill-taking habit.

Femodene ED is a monophasic pill, meaning every active tablet in the pack contains exactly the same dose of both hormones throughout the 28-day cycle. This makes the regimen straightforward: the same tablet every day, with no need to track where you are in a variable-dose schedule.

Femodene ED is a Prescription Only Medicine. It cannot be purchased without a valid prescription from a registered clinician. Before any prescription is issued, a clinical consultation is required to confirm that a combined oestrogen-progestogen pill is appropriate for your health circumstances and to identify any contraindications or risk factors.

Suppressing Ovulation

The primary contraceptive mechanism of Femodene ED is the suppression of ovulation. Ethinylestradiol and gestodene act together on the pituitary gland to inhibit the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone. Without the luteinising hormone surge that normally triggers egg release, ovulation does not occur. This is the same primary mechanism shared by all combined oral contraceptives.

Secondary Mechanisms

Femodene ED also works through two secondary mechanisms that contribute to its contraceptive effect:

1. Gestodene thickens the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to travel through the cervix.
2. The hormonal combination alters the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), reducing its receptiveness to implantation even in the unlikely event that an egg were fertilised.

The Every Day Format

The seven inactive tablets in each Femodene ED pack serve no pharmacological purpose. They are placebo tablets designed to maintain an unbroken daily tablet-taking habit. A withdrawal bleed typically occurs during the seven inactive tablet days due to the drop in hormone levels. This bleed is not a true menstrual period but is a predictable consequence of the brief hormone-free interval.

Cycle Regulation

As a combined hormonal contraceptive, Femodene ED regulates the hormonal signals that govern the menstrual cycle. Many women find that their withdrawal bleeds become lighter and more predictable whilst taking a combined pill. Lighter periods are a recognised secondary effect of combined hormonal contraception and are not a cause for concern.

Starting Your First Pack

Your prescriber will advise on the most appropriate starting day. The standard guidance is:

1. Day 1 start: Begin on the first day of your period with the first active tablet. You are protected from pregnancy immediately.
2. Day 2 to 5 start: Begin within the first five days of your cycle. Use additional contraception such as condoms for the first seven days.
3. Switching from another combined pill: Take the first active Femodene ED tablet the day after your last active tablet from the previous pack. You remain protected immediately. Start from the beginning of the Femodene ED strip.
4. Switching from a progestogen-only pill: You can switch on any day. Use additional contraception for the first seven days.

Taking the 28-Day Pack

Take one tablet every day at the same time, working through the pack in the printed sequence. After completing all 28 tablets, begin the next pack immediately the following day. There is no gap between packs.

1. Swallow each tablet whole with water.
2. Take tablets at the same time each day to maintain consistent hormone levels.
3. Take tablets in the correct order as printed on the pack. Active and inactive tablets look different; do not confuse them.
4. A withdrawal bleed will usually occur during the seven inactive tablet days. Continue taking tablets every day during this time.

If You Miss a Tablet

The rules differ depending on whether the tablet missed was an active or inactive tablet:

1. Missed inactive tablet: no effect on contraceptive protection. Discard the missed inactive tablet and continue with the next tablet as normal.
2. Missed one active tablet, fewer than 24 hours late: take the missed tablet immediately and continue as normal. You remain protected.
3. Missed one active tablet, more than 24 hours late: take the missed tablet immediately and take the next one at the usual time, even if that means two in one day. Use additional contraception for seven days.
4. Missed two or more active tablets: take the most recently missed tablet immediately. Leave other missed tablets. Continue the pack and use additional contraception for seven days. If you missed active tablets in the first week and had unprotected sex, contact your prescriber or pharmacist about emergency contraception.

If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking an active tablet, or if you have severe diarrhoea, treat the situation as a missed pill. Refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for complete missed pill guidance in all specific scenarios.

Tablet Composition

• Active tablets (21 per pack): ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and gestodene 75 micrograms
• Inactive tablets (7 per pack): no active ingredients
• Monophasic formulation: every active tablet contains the same dose

Pack Format

• Each pack: 28 tablets (21 active and 7 inactive)
• Taken continuously, every day, with no break between packs

Dosage Regimen

One tablet daily at the same time for 28 consecutive days, then begin the next pack immediately. The dose is fixed: 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and 75 micrograms of gestodene in each active tablet. There is no titration or dose variation. Your prescriber will confirm the most appropriate starting day for your individual circumstances.

As with all medicines, Femodene ED can cause side effects. Not every woman will experience them. The following is a summary based on the current UK SmPC. Read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medication in full before starting treatment.

Common Side Effects

• Headache or migraine
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness or pain
• Mood changes, including low mood or irritability
• Changes in libido
• Irregular spotting or breakthrough bleeding, especially in the first few cycles
• Changes in vaginal discharge

Less Common Side Effects

• Weight changes
• Changes in contact lens tolerance due to corneal effects
• Skin changes including chloasma (patches of darker skin on the face)

Serious Side Effects: Seek Urgent Medical Attention If You Experience

• Sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, or coughing up blood. These may indicate a pulmonary embolism or heart attack.
• Pain, swelling, or warmth in one leg. This may indicate deep vein thrombosis.
• Sudden severe headache, visual disturbance, weakness in the face, arm, or leg, or difficulty speaking. These may indicate a stroke.
• Severe abdominal pain, which may indicate a liver problem or ectopic pregnancy.
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Blood Clot Risk

All combined oral contraceptives carry a small increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared with women not using hormonal contraception. Gestodene-containing pills including Femodene ED are considered to carry a broadly similar VTE risk to desogestrel and drospirenone-containing combined pills, and a somewhat higher risk than levonorgestrel-containing pills. Your prescriber will assess your individual risk factors before prescribing, including BMI, smoking status, personal and family history of blood clots, and any planned periods of immobility.

Important Drug Interactions

Enzyme-inducing medicines can reduce the effectiveness of Femodene ED. These include:

• Rifampicin and rifabutin
• Certain antiepileptic medicines including phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and topiramate
• Some HIV medicines including ritonavir and efavirenz
• St John's Wort

Always disclose your full medication list, including herbal remedies and supplements, at every consultation. If you are prescribed an enzyme-inducing medicine whilst taking Femodene ED, additional contraceptive precautions or an alternative method may be required.

Femodene ED Is Not Suitable If You:

• Have or have ever had a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or arterial thrombosis)
• Have or have ever had a stroke or heart attack
• Have migraine with aura
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Have liver disease or liver tumours
• Have or have ever had breast cancer or another oestrogen-sensitive cancer
• Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• Are breastfeeding a baby under six weeks old
• Are a smoker aged 35 or over
• Have diabetes with vascular complications

This Medicine May Be Appropriate If You:

• Are a healthy adult woman seeking reliable daily hormonal contraception
• Find maintaining a daily pill-taking habit easier without a seven-day break in your routine
• Have no personal or family history of blood clots, stroke, or cardiovascular disease
• Do not have migraine with aura and do not smoke heavily
• Are not currently taking medicines that interact significantly with combined oral contraceptives

Use With Caution If You:

• Are a smoker under the age of 35. Smoking increases cardiovascular risk with all oestrogen-containing contraceptives.
• Have a BMI above 30. Obesity is an independent risk factor for VTE.
• Have a family history of blood clots in a first degree relative under the age of 50.
• Have a history of depression. Combined hormonal contraceptives can affect mood in some women.
• Are planning long-haul travel or extended periods of immobility, which independently increase VTE risk.
• Have had high blood pressure during pregnancy or other oestrogen-sensitive conditions in the past.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered UK online pharmacy. All prescriptions for Femodene ED are issued following a genuine clinical consultation conducted by a registered prescriber. The process works as follows:

1. Complete a structured medical questionnaire covering your health history, current medicines, smoking status, BMI, family history of blood clots and cardiovascular disease, and any relevant gynaecological history. Accurate and complete answers are essential.
2. A registered prescriber reviews your consultation individually and assesses whether Femodene ED is clinically appropriate for your specific circumstances, including the gestodene-related VTE risk profile.
3. A prescription is issued only if the prescriber determines that Femodene ED is appropriate for you. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription. The prescriber may determine that a different contraceptive is more suitable, or that further information or a face-to-face assessment is required.
4. If a prescription is issued, your medication is dispensed and dispatched by our pharmacy team. Our team is available for any follow-up questions during or after treatment.
5. Repeat supply requires a new consultation to confirm that continued prescribing remains appropriate for your current health.

• Store below 25°C.
• Keep tablets in the original blister pack to protect from moisture.
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use tablets after the expiry date printed on the pack.
• Return unused tablets to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste.

This reference guide compares the contraceptive preparations available at Pharmacy Planet, grouped by delivery method and formulation type. Every preparation is a Prescription Only Medicine. A registered prescriber will review your individual health profile, contraceptive history, and risk factors before recommending any preparation. This table is a clinical reference, not a recommendation.

Combined Oral Contraceptive Tablets (Monophasic)

Monophasic combined pills contain the same dose of both hormones in every active tablet. The table below compares commonly prescribed monophasic combined oral contraceptives by progestogen type, oestrogen dose, VTE risk category, pack format, and key clinical characteristics.

Important: This comparison is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. A prescriber will decide which treatment is suitable for you following an online consultation.

Pharmacy Planet is a registered UK online pharmacy regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council. We provide a clinically responsible and confidential route to accessing prescription contraception, including everyday combined pills such as Femodene ED. Our platform supports informed decision-making, with genuine clinical assessment at every stage.

Every prescriber working through our platform reviews consultations individually. They make clinical decisions based on your specific health profile, and if Femodene ED is not appropriate for you, they will tell you clearly. Our team will support you in exploring alternatives wherever that is possible. Clinical integrity is a feature of our service, not an inconvenience.

Our GPhC registration and the EU common logo on our website confirm our status as a legitimate, verified UK online pharmacy. You can verify our registration at any time via www.pharmacyregulation.org. Our pharmacy team is available for questions before, during, and after your consultation.

• Bayer plc. Femodene ED film-coated tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: www.medicines.org.uk/emc. Accessed May 2026.
• Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH). Combined Hormonal Contraception – Clinical Guidance. Available at: www.fsrh.org. Accessed May 2026.
• NHS. Combined pill – your contraception guide. Available at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill. Accessed May 2026.
• British National Formulary (BNF). Ethinylestradiol with gestodene. Available at: bnf.nice.org.uk. Accessed May 2026.
• MHRA. Combined hormonal contraceptives and venous thromboembolism – updated guidance. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agency. Accessed May 2026.