Online Doctor SA Oral & Patch Contraception

What contraception is right for me?

THE LIST OF INFORMATION BELOW FOR ORAL AND PATCH CONTRACEPTIVE MEDICATION IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW AND IS NOT COMPLETE. 

PLEASE READ THE PACKAGE INSERT OF YOUR MEDICATION FOR FULL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS. 

USE ONLINE DOCTOR SA TO GET YOUR CONTRACEPTION ONLINE!

Pill: Yasmin/Ruby

Active Ingredient: Drospirenone and Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, changes in flow, breast tenderness.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, gallbladder problems, allergic reactions, liver problems. 

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R115 – R200 (pharmacy dependent)

How to use:

1. Start on the first day of your period using the current day of the week from the silver section of the pack.
2. Then continue to take one tablet daily ensuring that you take it at the same time, proceed in the direction of the arrows.
3. Expect withdrawal bleeding to begin around day 2 or 3 after starting the hormone-free tablets. It may not finish before you start the next pack. 

Notes:

The difference between Yasmin and Yasmin Plus is that Yasmin Plus contains levomefolate (a form of folic acid). Levomefolate assists in preventing birth defects during pregnancy. If you’re thinking of getting pregnant soon after stopping birth control, or if you’re worried about unplanned pregnancy, this could be a suitable choice for you.

Get Yasmin with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Yaz/Yaz Plus

Active Ingredients Yaz: Drospirenone/Ethinylestradiol

Active Ingredients Yaz Plus: Drospirenone/Ethinylestradiol/Levomefolate Calcium

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in appetite, change in libido
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, increased risk of cancers.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R220.00 (pharmacy dependent)

How to use: 

• Take 1 tablet daily at the same time each day, for 28 days in the order directed on the package.
• Start with the specified section on the package on the first day of your menstrual cycle, using the day label (e.g. “MO” for Monday)

Notes:

Yaz Plus contains levomefolate (a form of folic acid). Levomefolate assists in preventing birth defects during pregnancy. If you’re thinking of getting pregnant soon after stopping birth control, or if you’re worried about unplanned pregnancy, this could be a suitable choice for you.

Get Yaz online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Triphasil 

Active Ingredient: Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, increased risk of cancers.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R110.00 (pharmacy dependent)

How to use:

The dosage of Triphasil 28 Tablets is one tablet daily for 28 consecutive days per menstrual cycle in the following order:

1. 6 brown tablets (phase 1)
2. followed by 5 white tablets (phase 2) 
3. followed by 10 light yellow tablets (phase 3)
4. followed by 7 red placebo/inactive tablets. 

Notes:

Another variant of Triphasil might contain 21 active white pills and 7 red placebo pills. Take one active pill daily for 21 days, then switch to one placebo tablet daily for seven days. Your period can usually be expected during the fourth week of the cycle.

Get Triphasil online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Diane-35, Minerva-35, Ginette

Active Ingredients: Cyproterone Acetate/Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects:

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in appetite, change in libido.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, increased risk of cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, liver issues.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention in women who require anti-androgen therapy
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Alleviate symptoms of PCOS
• Premenstrual syndrome control

Cost: 1 month supply R150+ (pharmacy dependent)

How to use: 

• Follow the sequence of the arrows on the pack
• Initiate tablet on day 1 of the menstrual cycle (1st day of menstruation)
  • The first tablet should be taken from the specified section of the calendar pack, starting with the indicated day on the strip.
• Take 1 active tablet daily at the same time each day for 21 days
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 7 days

Notes:

A proper medical workup is required before initiating treatment. Diane-35, Minerva-35, Ginette, Adco-Fem 35, Cyprene-35 and Diva 35 have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, high blood pressure and cancers compared to other contraception. They are usually reserved for women who have severe hirsutism.

Pill: Zoely

Active Ingredients: Nomegestrol Acetate/Estradiol Hemihydrate

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido, spotting/irregular bleeding.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, liver problems, increased risk of cancers, increased weight.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R170.00 (pharmacy dependent) 

How to use: 

• Start on 1st day of menstrual cycle
• Take 1 active tablet daily at the same time each day for 24 days
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 4 days

Notes:

Withdrawal bleeding usually starts on day 2-3 after the last active tablet.

Get Zoely online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Qlaira 

Active Ingredients: Dienogest/Estradiol Valerate

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido, spotting/irregular bleeding, insomnia.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, liver problems, increased risk of cancers, increased weight, heart attack.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R210.00 (pharmacy dependent) 

How to use: 

• Initiate with estradiol valerate 3mg tablet on day 1 of the menstrual cycle
• Estradiol Valerate 3mg – 1 tablet daily for 2 days, THEN
• Dienogest/Estradiol Valerate 2/2 mg – 1 tablet daily for 5 days, THEN
• Dienogest/Estradiol Valerate 2/3 mg – 1 tablet daily for 17 days, THEN
• Estradiol Valerate 1mg – 1 tablet daily for 2 days, THEN
• Inactive tablets – 1 tablet daily for 2 days

Get Qlaira online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Nordette

also called Oralcon/Levette

Active Ingredients: Levonorgestrel/Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido, spotting/irregular bleeding.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, liver problems, increased risk of cancers, increased weight.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Some acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control
• Slightly lower risk of venous thromboembolism compared to other combined oral contraception.

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R120.00 (pharmacy dependent) 

How to use: 

• Take 1 active tablet daily at the same time each day for 21 days
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 7 days

Get Nordette/Oralcon/Levette online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Ovral

Active Ingredients: Norgestrel/Ethinlyestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, increased risk of cancers, heart attack, liver issues.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control

Cost: 1 month supply (pharmacy dependent) +/- R110.00

How to use: 

• Initiate tablet on day 1 of the menstrual cycle (1st day of menstruation)
• Take 1 active tablet daily at the same time each day for 21 days
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 7 days

Get Ovral online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Mirelle 

Active Ingredients: Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, liver issues, vaginal and breast discharge, skin disorder, contact lens intolerance, migraine.

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control
• Premenstrual syndrome control
• Less weight gain as compared to other pills

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R170.00 (pharmacy dependent)

How to use: 

• Initiate on day 1 of the menstrual cycle.
• Take 1 tablet daily at the same time each day, for 24 days in the order directed on the package. 
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 4 days.

Notes: 

Gestodene containing contraception works well for issues such as acne/hirsutism but has a slightly higher risk of developing blood clots compared to Drospirenone and Levonorgestrel containing pills.

Get Mirelle online with Online Doctor SA.

Pill: Microval

also known as the “mini-pill”

Active Ingredient: Levonorgestrel

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, mood changes, headaches, increased or decreased libido, increased or decreased weight (individual responses vary), irregular bleeding.
• Severe/Rare:
  • Allergic reaction

Benefits:

• Can be used by women that should avoid Combined Oral Contraception such as those who:
  • Have a history of blood clots (thrombosis).
  • Are over 35 years of age and smoke.
  • Have migraines, particularly with aura.
  • Have cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure).
  • Are breastfeeding

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R100.00 (pharmacy dependent)

How to use: 

• Initiate on day 1 of the menstrual cycle.
• Take 1 tablet daily at the same time each day, for 24 days in the order directed on the package. 
• Then take 1 inactive tablet daily for 4 days.

Notes: 

Microval must be taken at the same time every day. If more than 3 hours late, the contraceptive effect may be reduced, which can be less convenient than combined pills with a longer window for a missed dose. Barrier contraception must be used for the first 14 days after initiating.

Get Microval online with Online Doctor SA.

Patch: Evra

Active Ingredients: Norelgestromin/Ethinylestradiol

Possible Side effects: 

• Common:
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mood changes, headaches, breast tenderness, abdominal cramps, bloating, change in libido, spotting/irregular bleeding, insomnia,
• Severe/Rare:
  • Blood clots, high blood pressure, liver problems, increased risk of cancers, increased weight, heart attack.
• Other: Alopecia, eczema

Benefits:

• Adequate pregnancy prevention
• Menstrual cycle regulation
• Lighter menstrual cycle
• Reduction of menstrual cramps
• Acne control

Cost: 1 month supply +/- R200.00 (pharmacy dependent).

How to use: 

• 1 patch weekly.
• The fourth week is transdermal patch-free starting on day 22

Notes: 

If treatment starts after day 1 of the menstrual cycle, a non-hormonal contraceptive should be used concurrently for the first 7 consecutive days of the first treatment cycle only.

If there are more than 7 patch-free days, non-hormonal contraceptives must then be used concurrently for 7 days.

Patches should not be reapplied if they are no longer sticky. Do not use supplemental adhesives or wraps to hold the patch in place.

Get the Evra Patch online with Online Doctor SA.

THE LIST OF INFORMATION ABOVE FOR CONTRACEPTIVE MEDICATION IS A GENERAL OVERVIEW AND IS NOT COMPLETE. PLEASE READ THE PACKAGE INSERT OF YOUR MEDICATION FOR FULL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS. IMAGES USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.