How does Marvelon (Ethinylestradiol/Desogestrel) work:

Marvelon (Ethinylestradiol/Desogestrel) is an oral contraceptive, commonly known as a `birth control pill` that has been prescribed to prevent you from getting pregnant.

Marvelon prevents pregnancy by stopping it maturing and changing the cervical mucus consistency making it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg. It also works by changing the lining of the uterus making it less suitable for implantation.

Dosage & Administartion:

Marvelon pack contains tablets with active substances and some do not contain active substances. On the blister each tablet is marked with the day of the week on which it is to be taken. Take your tablet about the same time each day, with some liquid if necessary.

Follow the direction of the arrows on the pack until all tablets have been taken. A period should begin during the 7 days that you use the inactive tablets (the withdrawal bleed). Usually it will start on day 2-3 after the last large tablet.

Side Effects:

• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• diarrhoea
• increase in body weight
• fluid retention
• headache and/or migraine
• decreased sexual drive
• depression or mood changes
• breast pain, tenderness or enlargement
• rash
• hives
• contact lens intolerance
• hypersensitivity reactions
• decrease in body weight
• increased sexual drive
• breast secretion
• vaginal secretion
• erythema nodosum
• erythema multiforme

Precautions:

Before you start to use Marvelon, you must tell your physician if you are allergic to any foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicines, or if you smoke.

Tell your physician if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, a heart valve disorder (or a certain heart rhythm disorder), an inflammation of your veins, varicose veins, a thrombosis, a heart attack, a stroke, high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides, liver or gall bladder disease, Crohn`s disease or ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, sickle cell disease, hearing loss, porphyria, herpes gestationis, Sydenham`s chorea, or chloasma.

Inform you physician immediately if you are pregnant or think you are pregnant while you are using Marvelon.