Logynon

Logynon is a combined oral contraceptive tablet containing levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol at three different dose combinations delivered in sequence across the 21-day cycle. It is licensed in the United Kingdom for the prevention of pregnancy. Logynon belongs to the combined hormonal contraceptive group of medicines and works by suppressing ovulation while also altering cervical mucus and the endometrial lining to prevent fertilisation and implantation. It is available as a film-coated tablet in a 21-tablet triphasic pack, taken on a 21-day active tablet, seven-day break schedule. This page provides information about how Logynon works, how to take it correctly, the three-phase dosing structure, and important safety information.

Logynon is a triphasic combined oral contraceptive manufactured by Bayer plc. Triphasic means the hormone doses change at three distinct points across the 21-tablet cycle, stepping up and then adjusting in a pattern designed to more closely mirror the hormonal variation of a natural cycle. This contrasts with monophasic pills, which deliver the same dose in every active tablet throughout the course.

Each pack of Logynon contains 21 tablets divided into three colour-coded phases. The tablets must be taken in the correct sequence, following the order printed on the blister strip. The active ingredients are levonorgestrel (a second-generation synthetic progestogen) and ethinylestradiol (a synthetic oestrogen).

Levonorgestrel is a second-generation progestogen. MHRA guidance confirms that levonorgestrel-containing pills sit in the lowest VTE risk category among combined oral contraceptives, below preparations containing third-generation progestogens such as desogestrel, gestodene, or norgestimate. Logynon therefore carries the same lower-risk VTE classification as monophasic levonorgestrel-based pills such as Microgynon 30.

Logynon is a Prescription Only Medicine. A clinical consultation with a registered prescriber is required before it can be supplied. The prescriber assesses your individual health profile, VTE risk factors, and contraindications before a prescription can be considered.

Ovulation Suppression

The primary contraceptive mechanism of Logynon is ovulation suppression. Ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel act together on the pituitary gland to inhibit follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone. Without the luteinising hormone surge, no egg is released from the ovary. This is the same primary mechanism shared by all combined oral contraceptives.

Cervical Mucus and Endometrial Effects

1. Levonorgestrel thickens cervical mucus, reducing sperm penetration and adding a secondary contraceptive barrier.
2. The combined hormonal action alters the endometrial lining, making it less receptive to implantation.

The Triphasic Dose Pattern

Unlike monophasic pills that deliver the same hormone level throughout the active phase, Logynon steps through three distinct hormone combinations over 21 days. The progestogen (levonorgestrel) increases progressively from phase one to phase three, while the oestrogen (ethinylestradiol) rises in phase two before returning to the phase one level in phase three. This graduated approach is the defining pharmacological feature of Logynon and why it is described as a triphasic contraceptive. Taking tablets out of sequence would disrupt this pattern and may reduce contraceptive reliability.

The Withdrawal Bleed

After 21 days of active tablets, stopping the pill causes oestrogen and progestogen levels to fall. This drop triggers a withdrawal bleed during the seven-day break. The bleed is not a true menstrual period. It is a pharmacological response to hormone withdrawal and is typically lighter and shorter than a natural period. The break must be exactly seven days. Extending it risks allowing ovarian follicle activity to resume before the next course of tablets re-establishes suppression.

Starting Guidance

1. Day 1 start: Begin on the first day of your period with the first Phase 1 tablet. Protection is immediate.
2. Days 2 to 5 start: Begin within the first five days of your cycle. Use a barrier method for the first seven days.
3. Switching from another combined pill: Take the first Logynon Phase 1 tablet the day after your last active tablet from the previous pack. No break is needed and protection continues.
4. Switching from a progestogen-only pill: Start Logynon on any day. Use a barrier method for the first seven days.

Following the Triphasic Sequence

Logynon must be taken in the correct phase order printed on the blister strip. The phases are colour-coded and clearly marked:

1. Phase 1: 6 tablets taken first
2. Phase 2: 5 tablets taken second
3. Phase 3: 10 tablets taken third

Take one tablet every day at the same time for 21 consecutive days, following the sequence on the strip. After the 21st tablet, pause for exactly seven days. Start the next pack on day 29, whether or not the withdrawal bleed has finished. Never skip or rearrange tablets within the pack.

1. Swallow each tablet whole with water.
2. Consistent daily timing helps maintain steady hormone levels.
3. Do not extend the seven-day break beyond seven days.
4. Vomiting within two hours of taking a tablet, or severe diarrhoea, may reduce absorption. Apply the missed pill guidance below.

Missed Pill Rules

1. Under 24 hours late: take the missed tablet immediately and continue at the usual time. You remain protected.
2. More than 24 hours late: take the missed tablet now and take the next at the usual time, even if two fall on the same day. Use a barrier method for seven days.
3. Two or more consecutive missed tablets: take only the most recently missed tablet, discard the earlier ones, continue the pack in sequence, and use barrier contraception for seven days. If the missed tablets fell in week one and unprotected sex occurred during that window, seek advice about emergency contraception from your prescriber or pharmacist promptly.

Because Logynon is triphasic, the phase in which tablets are missed is relevant to the missed pill rules. Always refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for complete guidance on missed tablets at each phase, or contact your pharmacist directly.

Phase-by-Phase Composition

Logynon is supplied as a single pack of 21 tablets in three colour-coded phases. The dose changes at each phase as follows:

Total Cycle Dose

1. Total levonorgestrel across the 21-day course: (6 x 50) + (5 x 75) + (10 x 125) = 300 + 375 + 1,250 = 1,925 micrograms
2. Total ethinylestradiol across the 21-day course: (6 x 30) + (5 x 40) + (10 x 30) = 180 + 200 + 300 = 680 micrograms

Regimen

One tablet daily, in phase order, for 21 consecutive days, followed by a seven-day tablet-free interval. Tablets must be taken in the sequence shown on the blister strip. There is no interchangeability between phases. Your prescriber confirms the appropriate starting day for your individual circumstances.

Logynon ED

A related preparation, Logynon ED, contains the same three phases of active tablets but also includes seven inactive placebo tablets. This allows you to take a tablet every day without a break, which some women find easier to maintain. If you are interested in an every-day format, discuss this with your prescriber at your consultation.

The following information is based on the current UK SmPC for Logynon. Side effects vary between individuals. Read the Patient Information Leaflet in full before starting treatment.

Common Side Effects

• Headache or migraine
• Nausea, particularly in the first few weeks
• Breast tenderness or discomfort
• Mood changes, including low mood or irritability
• Changes in libido
• Irregular spotting or alterations to the withdrawal bleed pattern, especially in the first one to three cycles
• Changes in vaginal discharge

Less Common Side Effects

• Weight changes
• Contact lens intolerance caused by changes in corneal curvature or moisture
• Chloasma: patches of darker skin, usually on the face, worsened by sun exposure

Serious Side Effects: Seek Urgent Medical Attention If You Experience

• Sudden chest pain, breathlessness, or coughing up blood: possible pulmonary embolism or heart attack.
• Swelling, pain, redness, or warmth in one leg: possible deep vein thrombosis.
• Sudden severe headache, loss of vision, speech difficulty, or one-sided weakness: possible stroke.
• Acute severe abdominal pain: possible liver complication or ectopic pregnancy.
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes: possible jaundice or hepatic dysfunction.

VTE Risk

All combined oral contraceptives raise VTE risk above the baseline for women using no hormonal contraception. Logynon contains levonorgestrel, a second-generation progestogen. Levonorgestrel-containing pills sit in the lowest VTE risk category among combined pills, as confirmed by MHRA guidance. The risk is lower than with third-generation progestogen-containing pills such as those with desogestrel, gestodene, or norgestimate. Individual risk factors including BMI, smoking status, personal and family history of blood clots, and planned immobility are assessed by the prescriber before any combined pill is prescribed.

Medicines That Can Interfere

Enzyme-inducing medicines accelerate the breakdown of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel, reducing hormone levels and contraceptive reliability:

• Rifampicin and rifabutin
• Antiepileptic medicines: phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, topiramate
• HIV antiretrovirals: ritonavir, efavirenz, and others
• St John's Wort, sold without prescription

Declare all medicines, supplements, and herbal products at every consultation. If an enzyme-inducing medicine is introduced while you are taking Logynon, your prescriber will advise on additional contraception or an alternative method.

Logynon Is Not Suitable If You:

• Have ever had a blood clot: deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, or heart attack
• Experience migraine with aura: an absolute contraindication to all oestrogen-containing combined pills
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Have active or past liver disease, liver tumours, or pill-related jaundice
• Have a current or previous diagnosis of breast cancer or a hormone-sensitive malignancy
• Are pregnant or have reason to believe you may be
• Are breastfeeding a baby under six weeks of age
• Smoke and are aged 35 or older
• Have diabetes with established vascular complications

Logynon May Be Appropriate If You:

• Are a healthy adult woman with no contraindications to combined hormonal contraception
• Have been specifically prescribed a triphasic pill by your prescriber, for example due to tolerability on a monophasic pill
• Require the lower VTE risk profile of a levonorgestrel-based combined pill
• Have no personal or family history of blood clots, stroke, or cardiovascular disease
• Do not experience migraine with aura and are not a heavy smoker

Discuss With Your Prescriber Before Starting If You:

• Smoke and are under 35. Smoking at any age raises cardiovascular risk with all oestrogen-containing contraceptives.
• Have a BMI above 30. Raised BMI is an independent VTE risk factor.
• Have a first-degree relative who developed a blood clot before the age of 50.
• Experience migraine without aura. Individual clinical assessment is required.
• Are planning long-haul travel or face extended periods of immobility.
• Have a history of depression or are currently receiving treatment for a mood disorder.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered UK online pharmacy. Every prescription for Logynon is issued following a clinical consultation reviewed individually by a registered prescriber. Logynon is a triphasic pill, and the prescriber's assessment takes into account both your general suitability for combined hormonal contraception and whether the triphasic format is clinically appropriate for your circumstances.

You complete a clinical questionnaire covering your health history, current medicines, smoking status, BMI, family history of clotting and cardiovascular conditions, and any previous experience with hormonal contraception. The prescriber reads your responses and makes a clinical decision. The outcome may be a prescription for Logynon, a recommendation for a different combined pill, a suggestion to consider a different contraceptive method, a request for more information, or a referral for a face-to-face review. Completing a questionnaire does not guarantee a prescription. The prescriber determines the clinical outcome.

Repeat supply prescriptions follow the same individual review process. There is no automatic renewal. Each repeat consultation confirms that your health profile continues to support prescribing this preparation.

• Store below 25°C. Keep the pack away from direct heat, sunlight, and humid environments.
• Keep tablets in the original foil blister strip. The phase labelling and colour coding help you take tablets in the correct order.
• Store out of reach and sight of children at all times.
• Check the expiry date printed on the outer carton before use. Do not take tablets past their expiry date.
• Return unused or expired tablets to any UK pharmacy for safe disposal. Pharmacies accept returned medicines under Duty of Care regulations, free of charge. Do not flush tablets or dispose of them in 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.

Multiphasic combined pills change hormone doses at defined points across the active tablet course. The table below compares the triphasic and quadriphasic preparations available at Pharmacy Planet by progestogen stepping, oestrogen stepping, VTE risk, and key distinguishing features.

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.

Logynon is a triphasic pill. Its three-phase dose structure means that the prescribing decision involves not only confirming suitability for combined hormonal contraception but also assessing whether the stepwise dose pattern is the most appropriate choice for your circumstances. That requires a clinical judgement, not an automated response.

At Pharmacy Planet, every consultation for Logynon is reviewed by a registered prescriber who reads your answers individually and takes clinical responsibility for the prescribing decision. If Logynon is not appropriate for you, the prescriber will say so and guide you towards a more suitable option. We treat the clinical assessment as the purpose of the consultation, not a procedural step before supply.

Our GPhC registration is published on our website and independently verifiable at www.pharmacyregulation.org. The Internet Pharmacy logo on our site confirms our standing as a regulated UK online pharmacy. Our pharmacy team is available before, during, and after your consultation for any questions about Logynon.

• Bayer plc. Logynon 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 levonorgestrel. 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.