Eloine

Eloine is a combined oral contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy in women over 18. Sometimes simply referred to as “the pill”, it contains two ingredients, ethinylestradiol and drospirenone, which are synthetic versions of oestrogen and progestogen, respectively. When taken as directed, Eloine is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Yes, Eloine is the same medicine as Yaz, just with different branding. Eloine is the brand name in the UK, whereas Yaz is used in most other countries in Europe. Despite differences in packaging, they contain the same active ingredients and work in exactly the same way.

Eloine works in three core ways to stop pregnancy:

• Prevents ovulation: Eloine prevents the release of hormones that trigger ovulation. With no egg released, fertilisation cannot occur.
• Thickens cervical mucus: Eloine makes the mucus at the cervix thicker, which makes it harder for sperm to pass through.
• Alters the uterine lining: Eloine modifies the lining of the womb, making it less likely for a fertilised egg to attach to it and grow.

Eloine is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. This means that less than 1 in 100 women using it as directed will become pregnant within a year. However, its effectiveness can drop if pills are missed or not taken at the same time each day, so following the instructions carefully is essential for maximum protection.

One study found that out of 1,027 women taking Eloine, only 11 pregnancies occurred, 6 of which were due to misuse. This equates to around 99% effectiveness.

Only women over the age of 18 will be prescribed Eloine.

Do not take Eloine if you:

• are allergic to any ingredient found in this medicine
• have ever had a blood clot or a disorder affecting blood clotting
• are due for a surgery or will be immobile for a long time
• have ever had a heart attack or stroke
• have angina pectoris (a condition causing severe chest pain) or transient ischaemic attack (temporary stroke symptoms)
• experience migraines with aura
• have ever had liver disease, a liver tumour, or kidney problems
• have ever had cancer of the breasts or genital organs
• experience unexplained genital bleeding

Each pack of Eloine contains 28 tablets:

• 24 active tablets (pink)
• 4 inactive tablets (white)

The inactive tablets don’t contain hormones, they’re just there to help you maintain the routine while allowing a withdrawal bleed to occur. After this bleed, your cycle resets, and you start the next pack, maintaining consistent hormone levels and ongoing protection.

When you start your tablets depends on a few different factors. Follow this guide when starting treatment:

• If you have not used hormonal contraception in the last month:

  Start on day 1 of your period for immediate protection. Starting on days 2–5 requires extra protection for 7 days.

• If you’re switching from another combined pill, ring, or patch:

  Start the day after your last active tablet or after removing your ring/patch. Begin at the latest after your placebo or tablet-free days.

• If you’re switching from a progestogen-only method (mini-pill, injection, implant, etc.):

  You can start on any day, but use extra protection for 7 days.

• After a miscarriage:

  Follow your doctor’s advice.

• After giving birth:

  Start between 21 and 28 days after giving birth. Starting later requires extra protection for 7 days.

Missing a tablet makes treatment less effective and pregnancy more likely. However, advice differs depending on your stage of treatment. Follow these guidelines to stay protected.

Inactive (white) tablets

If you forget to take a placebo tablet, don’t worry. It will not affect your protection against pregnancy. Simply throw away the missed placebo tablet and continue with your usual schedule.

Active (pink) tablets

Missing an active tablet may reduce protection against pregnancy. The impact depends on how late you are and which week of the strip the tablet is from.

If you are less than 24 hours late:

Protection is not reduced, so long as you follow these instructions:

• Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember.
• Continue on with treatment as usual.

If you are more than 24 hours late:

Protection may be reduced, but the severity of risk depends on how far along you are in your pack:

• Days 1-7 (first row): Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two at the same time. Continue with your remaining tablets at your usual time, and use additional contraceptive methods (e.g., condoms) for the next 7 days.
• Days 8-14 (second row): Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, and continue with your remaining tablets at your usual time. There is no need for an additional contraceptive method.
• Days 15-24 (third or fourth row): Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember, and continue with your remaining tablets as usual. Instead of taking the white placebo tablets at the end of the strip, throw them away and start the next strip.

There are some potential side effects of Eloine, although not everyone will experience them. Most notably, Eloine slightly increases the risk of blood clots in your veins or arteries. Talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Eloine if this worries you.

Apart from that, here are the most common Eloine side effects:

• mood swings
• headache
• nausea
• breast pain
• problems with your periods

For a full list of side effects, consult the patient information leaflet.

Do not take Eloine while pregnant or breastfeeding. If pregnancy occurs while taking the pill, stop taking it immediately.

Eloine doesn’t stop your period if it has already started, but it can delay it. You should not experience your period while taking the active pink tablets, but after finishing them and moving onto the white tablets, you will experience a withdrawal bleed.

While not advised, you can technically delay your period for longer by skipping the white tablets and going straight to your next strip. Only do this if you have been told that you can by your doctor.

Eloine has not been scientifically found to cause weight gain, despite common belief that birth control pills do. Some people may notice mild bloating or fluid retention, but not lasting weight gain.

Yes, Eloine can help improve acne. A comprehensive review of over 31 clinical trials found that contraceptive pills like Eloine reduced spots and improved skin.

However, Eloine is not approved as an acne treatment, so you can only enjoy this benefit if it is prescribed as a contraceptive.

Safety is our number one priority at 121doc. For this reason, our doctors will only prescribe you treatment if you meet the criteria in your online consultation.

A prescription from a trusted healthcare provider like 121doc ensures:

• safety during treatment
• effective results
• monitoring of side effects