Safety should always be on top of the list of priorities for women who want to prevent pregnancy by using hormonal birth control means. There are certain safety measures to be taken with Microgynon, currently one of the safest and most effective regular contraceptive pills available on the market. The availability of Microgynon online makes it an even more popular choice among many UK women. Let's have a detailed look at some of the precautions you should take before using this birth control pill.

Combined contraceptives and deep venous thrombosis

Each Microgynon 30 ED pill contains 30mcg of ethinylestradiol and 150mcg of levonorgestrel as the active ingredients. The former active ingredient is the synthetic version of oestrogen and the latter one is the synthetic version of progesterone. Now as Microgynon pills combine two different hormonal derivatives, the risk of deep venous thrombosis (thromboembolism) is higher with them compared to single-hormone contraceptive pills. The risk of thromboembolism is higher during the first year of contraception and you should always take Microgynon contraceptive pill when recommended by a doctor.

'Second generation' pills vs. 'third generation' pills

Any combined birth control pill containing levonorgestrel (a progesterone derivative) as one of its two active ingredients is colloquially referred to as a 'second generation' pill whereas pills containing advanced hormonal derivatives such as gestodene are called 'third generation' pills. According to some studies, the 'second generation' pills pose a higher risk of thromboembolism than the 'third generation' pills. This is another valid reason for you to seek medical help before using Microgynon pills.

Post-surgical safety measures

If you have recently undergone a major surgery, you should be extra careful in using contraceptive pills. Any major surgery keeps an individual immobile for a fairly long period of time and that is not the right time to start with contraceptive pills. You should discontinue with Microgynon 30 ED if you have undergone surgical procedures. However, you can resume taking Microgynon pills a couple of weeks after complete recovery.

Precautions with other health conditions

Using Microgynon contraceptive pill can be risky with certain health conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, subarachnoid haemorrhage, sickle cell disease and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. If you have/had any of these conditions, talk to a doctor about the precautions you should take when using a birth control method.

Safety measures during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Microgynon 30 ED is not recommended for women who are already pregnant. Taking this pill during lactation can lower the production of breast milk and may also cause a change in its contents. Although it is not clearly known if the active ingredients of a contraceptive pill can be passed onto the baby during breastfeeding, you should avoid taking any chances with combined birth control pills. Doctors suggest that progestin-only pills are safer than combined birth control pills during nursing.