Check out the side effects of oral contraceptives including Mircette

Nah..You ain't getting to MY egg boy! ...I'm on Mircette

Okay, sperm has a specific job to do but so does Mircette - like other oral contraceptives, it is taken by women as a means of preventing pregnancy. A combination of synthetic female hormones, (active ingeredients, ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel) stops the egg from being released from your ovary (I'm sure you know this 'releasing of an egg each month is called 'ovulation'). A sperm cannot 'do its job' i.e. fertilize an egg if it can't find one. If you take Mircette it will cause certain changes within your body, namely, it that will affect the consistency of the mucous in your cervix by making it thicker and it will also affect the lining of your womb. Both of these 'jobs' done by this pill work in tandem to stop you from getting pregnant- and frustrate the hell out of all those little 'swimmers'.

The furiously swimming sperm have to swim through your cervical mucous in their efforts to reach your egg so they can 'get lucky' and fertilize it. Here is where Mircette foils them- by making the mucous thicker than normal which really slows down those little swimmers, making it a Herculean task for any of them to even meet an egg in the unlikely event of one escaping from the ovary.
Should one little 'hero' sperm be congratulating himself on surviving the cervical 'mire' and making its way up to the egg, boy, is he in for a shock! Defeat awaits the successful little zygote ( fertilised egg) because Mircette then stops it from attaching to the wall of the uterus, hence no pregnancy this month guys.

Ethinyl Estradiol and Desogestrel - is there anything I should know about these drugs?

Yes, as for ALL oral contraceptives, Mircette included, there are certain situations where they should not be used , check the guide below:

if you have recently had a baby or are currently pregnant you should not take Mircette if you have a history of stroke or blood clotting or problems with high blood pressure you should not take Mircette if you suffer any type of liver or kidney disease, circulation problems or have any heart valve disorders if you suffer from constant headaches, hormone related cancer, abnormal vaginal bleeding or have a history of jaundice, you should not take Mircette unless specifically prescribed to do so by your doctor

When you first start using Mircette

It's no big deal, ladies, TO BE SURE you are managing your birth control effectively, yes? SO..just at the beginning of a new medication trial, use extra birth control protection for a while, such as a spermicide and a condom- your medical practitioner or clinic will advise which is best for you.



Taking any medication can carry risks, Mircette is no exception but there are a couple of risks that should be well noted and understood including:

1. Oral contraceptives, like Mircette, can increase your risk of heart disease/stroke and clotting (especially if you are 35 years of age or older)

2. Even vitamins and minerals and other 'over the counter' self administered drugs can alter the effectiveness of birth control pills so
please don't forget to tell your doctor the names of ALL other pills /liquids etc. you are using.

It would be impossible to put a warning on every medication covering every combination with all other drugs so do not construe that a lack of warning on any drug indicates that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for anyone. Double check.

Prior to taking Mircette oral contraceptive, tell your doctor if:

you ARE pregnant now or you have missed your last two periods and there is a chance you may pregnant, as oral contraceptives have been linked to birth defects

you are breastfeeding a new baby- medications pass through breast milk and can adversely affect a baby. You may find that your doctor will allow you to resume taking Mircette after a certain period of time.

you have any of the following conditions:
heart disease eg. angina, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, epilepsy, or gallbladder problems. It is possible that your doctor will prescribe an adjusted dosage for you and monitor you with regular tests during treatment so that you can continue to use Mircette as your preferred method of birth control.

Do I take Mircette oral contraceptive like other pills?

Yes, use according to your prescription and no higher doses. The pack contains 28 birth control pills- but only 21 contain the 'active', ingredients- the other 7 are there to keep you in a 'pill taking routine' so you don't forget. You should take the first pill on the first day of your period or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You will probably find that you get your period during the week that you are taking the 'inactive' pills.

Mircette, like many other medications, should be stored at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Breakthrough Bleeding is 'common' to many women during the first 3 months but.....

if it persists or gets particularly heavy, let your doctor know.

Mircette is meant to be taken once a day but don't let more than 24 hours lapse before you take the next day's pill- you will increase the risk of getting pregnant if you do. Follow the packet instructions unless your doctor has advised you to the contrary.

It is also wise to make sure you are not 'stranded' without your supply of pills so make sure you have the next months prescription on hand to avoid any 'gaps' in between courses.

Due for any medical testing or surgery?

If you are, tell the surgeon or doctor who is treating you that you are currently taking Mircette, since you may be required to stop taking an oral contraceptive before the procedure and maybe for a little while afterwards too.

Carole Pemberton is committed to researching and simplifying the latest information on contraceptives, including Mircette to empower teenagers and women to enjoy their sexuality and knowledgeably manage their birth control.