Marvelon Tablets

Marvelon is a combined oral contraceptive pill licensed in the United Kingdom for the prevention of pregnancy. Each tablet contains ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and desogestrel 150 micrograms. It is manufactured by Organon Pharma UK Limited and follows a standard 21-day active tablet, seven-day break schedule. Marvelon is a monophasic pill: every tablet in the pack contains the same dose of both hormones. Gedarel 30/150 is the generic equivalent of Marvelon and contains the same active ingredients at identical doses.

Desogestrel is a third-generation synthetic progestogen. Marvelon therefore carries a somewhat higher venous thromboembolism risk than pills containing levonorgestrel, though the absolute risk for most healthy women remains small. This risk factor is a standard part of the prescriber's assessment and is taken into account during the clinical consultation process. A valid prescription from a registered clinician is required before Marvelon can be supplied.

Marvelon is a combined oral contraceptive tablet. It contains two active hormones:

1. Ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms: a synthetic oestrogen
2. Desogestrel 150 micrograms: a synthetic third-generation progestogen

Marvelon is monophasic, meaning every active tablet in the 21-tablet pack delivers the same dose. There are no dose changes across the pack. This makes the regimen straightforward: the same tablet every day for 21 days, followed by a seven-day break.

Marvelon is manufactured by Organon Pharma UK Limited. Gedarel 30/150, manufactured by Gedeon Richter UK Ltd, is its generic equivalent. Both are considered clinically equivalent under NHS and FSRH prescribing guidance. Women are sometimes dispensed Gedarel in place of Marvelon for supply reasons, and the contraceptive content is identical.

As a Prescription Only Medicine, Marvelon requires a valid prescription from a registered clinician. A clinical consultation is necessary to confirm suitability, identify any contraindications, and determine whether this pill is appropriate for your individual health circumstances.

Suppressing Ovulation

The primary contraceptive mechanism of Marvelon is the suppression of ovulation. Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel 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.

Secondary Mechanisms

Marvelon also works through two secondary contraceptive mechanisms:

1. Desogestrel thickens the cervical mucus, making it more resistant to sperm penetration and reducing the chance of sperm reaching an egg.
2. The hormonal combination alters the endometrium, reducing its receptiveness to implantation in the unlikely event that fertilisation occurred.

The 21-Day Cycle

Marvelon is taken on a 21-day active tablet, seven-day break schedule. The 21-day course maintains consistent hormonal suppression. The seven-day break allows hormone levels to fall, triggering a withdrawal bleed. This bleed is not a true menstrual period. It is predictable and typically lighter and shorter than a natural period. After the seven-day break, a new pack begins regardless of whether the bleed has stopped.

Cycle Regulation

Because Marvelon regulates the hormonal signals governing the menstrual cycle, many women find their withdrawal bleeds become more predictable and lighter. Period regulation is a recognised secondary effect of combined hormonal contraception. It is not a licensed indication, but it is a commonly reported benefit during use.

Starting Your First Pack

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

1. Day 1 start: Begin on the first day of your period. 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 Marvelon tablet the day after your last active tablet from the previous pack. You remain protected immediately.
4. Switching from a progestogen-only pill: Start Marvelon on any day. Use additional contraception for the first seven days.

The 21-Day Regimen

Take one tablet every day at the same time for 21 consecutive days. After the 21st tablet, stop for exactly seven days. Start the next 21-tablet pack on day 29, the day after the break ends, regardless of whether any withdrawal bleeding has stopped. The break must not exceed seven days.

1. Swallow each tablet whole with water.
2. Take tablets at the same time each day to maintain consistent hormone levels.
3. Do not extend the seven-day break. Starting a new pack late increases the risk of ovulation occurring.
4. If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking a tablet, or severe diarrhoea develops, treat this as a missed pill.

Missed Pills

1. Fewer than 24 hours late: take the missed tablet immediately and continue as normal. You remain protected.
2. More than 24 hours later: take the missed tablet immediately, continue the pack, and take the next tablet at the usual time even if this means two in one day. Use additional contraception for seven days.
3. Two or more consecutive missed tablets: take the most recently missed tablet immediately, leave the others, continue the pack, and use additional contraception for seven days. If this falls in the first week of your pack and you had unprotected sex in the preceding seven days, contact your prescriber or pharmacist about emergency contraception.

Refer to the Patient Information Leaflet for complete missed pill guidance covering all specific scenarios and cycle positions.

Tablet Composition

1. Ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms per tablet
2. Desogestrel 150 micrograms per tablet
3. Monophasic: every tablet contains the same dose
4. 21 active tablets per pack

Dosage Regimen

One tablet taken daily at the same time for 21 consecutive days, followed by a seven-day tablet-free interval. The dose is fixed throughout the course. There is no titration or dose variation. Your prescriber will confirm the most appropriate starting day for your individual circumstances.

Marvelon and Gedarel 30/150

Marvelon (Organon) and Gedarel 30/150 (Gedeon Richter) are considered clinically equivalent. Both contain ethinylestradiol 30 micrograms and desogestrel 150 micrograms in identical doses. The generic equivalent Mercilon / Gedarel 20/150 contains the same desogestrel component but at a lower oestrogen dose of 20 micrograms. If you have been prescribed Marvelon previously and are offered Gedarel 30/150, the contraceptive content is the same.

Like all medicines, Marvelon 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 in full before starting treatment.

Common Side Effects

• Headache or migraine
• Nausea
• Breast tenderness or discomfort
• Mood changes, including low mood or irritability
• Changes in libido
• Breakthrough spotting or changes to the bleeding pattern, particularly in the first few cycles
• Changes in vaginal discharge

Less Common Side Effects

• Weight changes
• Contact lens intolerance due to changes in corneal curvature
• Skin changes including chloasma (patches of darker skin on the face)

Serious Side Effects: Seek Urgent Medical Attention If You Experience

• Sudden chest pain, breathlessness, 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 headaches, 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 whites of the eyes.

Blood Clot Risk and Desogestrel

All combined oral contraceptives carry a small increased risk of venous thromboembolism compared with women not using hormonal contraception. Desogestrel-containing pills, including Marvelon, carry a somewhat higher VTE risk than levonorgestrel-containing pills. The absolute risk remains small for most healthy women, but it is a clinically relevant factor. Your prescriber will assess your individual VTE risk factors, including BMI, smoking status, personal and family history of blood clots, and any planned periods of immobility, before prescribing.

Important Drug Interactions

Enzyme-inducing medicines reduces the effectiveness of Marvelon. 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, a herbal supplement available without prescription

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

Marvelon 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
• Have previously been prescribed Marvelon and are seeking a repeat supply
• Are switching from Gedarel 30/150 or another clinically equivalent pill
• 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 or are currently experiencing low mood. Combined hormonal contraceptives can affect mood in some women.
• Are planning long-haul travel or extended periods of immobility. These independently increase VTE risk.
• Have previously had high blood pressure in pregnancy or conditions sensitive to oestrogen exposure.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC registered UK online pharmacy. All prescriptions for Marvelon are issued following a genuine clinical consultation with a registered prescriber. The process is 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, any previous pill history, and relevant gynaecological history.
2. A registered prescriber reviews your consultation individually and assesses whether Marvelon is clinically appropriate for you. This includes weighing the desogestrel-related VTE risk profile against your personal risk factors.
3. A prescription is issued only if the prescriber determines that Marvelon is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription. The prescriber may determine that a different contraceptive is more suitable, or that further assessment is needed.
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.
5. Repeat supply requires a new consultation each time to confirm that continued prescribing remains clinically appropriate.

• Store below 25°C.
• Keep tablets in the original blister packaging to protect them 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 prescription contraception, including combined pills such as Marvelon. Every prescription is the outcome of a genuine individual clinical assessment.

Our prescribers review every consultation individually. If Marvelon is not appropriate for you, they will tell you clearly. Our team will support you in identifying an alternative where possible. Accessible contraception and safe prescribing practice go hand in hand.

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

• Organon Pharma UK Limited. Marvelon 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 desogestrel. 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.