Lizinna

What is Lizinna?

Lizinna is a type of combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) that’s mostly used for the prevention of pregnancy in women under 35, though it can also be prescribed in some cases for the treatment of PMS symptoms.

As Lizinna is a combined contraceptive, this means that it contains two hormones; oestrogen and progesterone. However, all forms of hormonal medication have synthetic versions of these that are made in labs. The two versions of the hormones in Lizinna are norgestimate (a progestogen) and ethinylestradiol (a synthetic oestrogen).

Lizinna is a monophasic contraceptive pill, meaning that there are 21 pills in each pack, each containing the same amount of hormones.

Other types of pill include phasic pills (where there are varying amounts of hormones) and every day pills, where placebo pills fill the 7-day-break so you never have to remember to restart a pack after a week of not taking anything.

How does Lizinna work?

COCs work in similar ways, and Lizinna’s two-hormone solution for pregnancy prevention works in two ways like many other combined pills.

Firstly, it stops an egg from being released from the ovaries (in other words, it stops you from ovulating), and in addition, it thickens cervical mucus to make it incredibly hard for sperm to reach the womb in the first place.

Combined pills trick your body into thinking that you’ve already ovulated and prepared for pregnancy, so it doesn’t release an egg. This is why they’re around 99% effective at preventing you from becoming pregnant. However, it’s important to know that no contraceptive method is 100% effective other than abstinence, which isn’t usually a viable solution.

Why are there so many different brands of birth control?

There are so many different brands of contraceptive pills that you might wonder why they all exist. This is because each brand may contain different synthetic versions of the hormones, and even sometimes in different amounts. Your body might react differently to some brands, or you might have other symptoms that can be solved by one brand and not another. The choice can be overwhelming if you’re just looking for contraception, but it’s important to find a pill that your body agrees with and that you’re comfortable taking.

Can I take Lizinna?

As Lizinna is a hormonal medicine, there are several groups of people that might not be able to take it as it could negatively affect their health. There are some known risks of taking contraceptive pills, and these are elevated for women with certain conditions. You should talk to your doctor before starting any kind of hormonal birth control if you have any of the following problems or conditions:

• History of blood clots
• A disorder that affects your blood clotting
• If you’ll be immobile for a while (for example if you need an operation)
• History of heart attack
• History of stroke
• Angina
• TIA (mini stroke)
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Migraines
• Breast cancer
• Liver cancer
• Liver disease
• Gall bladder disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• SLE
• Porphyria
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Haemolytic uraemic syndrome
• Varicose veins
• Inflamed veins under the skin
• If you can’t have oestrogen
• If you have a BMI of over 35

Talking to your doctor will let you listen to all of the options that are available for you, and you still even be able to take Lizinna with close monitoring from your own GP.

If you don’t have any of the conditions or problems listed above, it’s likely that you’re a good candidate for taking Lizinna as a contraceptive pill. However, if you notice a new onset of any of the conditions above whilst taking the pill, stop treatment immediately and make an urgent appointment with your GP.

What are the side effects of Lizinna?

Most hormonal pills cause side effects, but their severity depends on how your body tolerates that particular hormone (hence why there are so many different contraceptive pills available). Some of the most common side effects reported with Lizinna are:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Painful or abnormal periods for you
• Migraines
• Swelling
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Acne
• Painful breasts
• Weight gain
• Thrush
• Bloating
• No periods (amenorrhoea)
• UTIs
• Muscle spasms
• Vaginal discharge

More side effects are available to read in the patient information leaflet that’s included with your order. You might not experience any of these side effects at all, but if you do and you find you aren’t able to cope with them, make an appointment with your GP to discuss alternative options or other pills that your body might react better to.

What are the risks of taking the pill?

Hormonal birth control always carries risks, and the most commonly identified ones are:

• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Breast cancer
• Very high blood pressure
• Heart attack
• TIA (mini stroke)
• Liver problems
• Fits or convulsions

The elevated risks are only small, but it’s important to be informed of them so you can be aware of any symptoms that might indicate that you’re suffering as a result of using birth control. Your doctor will evaluate your personal risks of the above conditions and determine whether the combined contraceptive pill is a good and safe option for you.

How do you take Lizinna?

Lizinna is a monophasic, 21-day pill. The same amounts of hormones are in each pill and should be taken consecutively followed by a 7- day break. You should start the new pack of lizinna on the same day of the week that you started your last one.

Lizinna should be taken at the same time each day to be most effective at preventing pregnancy. If you miss a dose, you might have to use additional methods such as condoms for 7 days to make sure you’re still protected.

Ideally, you should start taking Lizinna on days 1-5 of your menstrual cycle, as you’ll be protected straight away. If you start the pills on any other day in your cycle, you’ll need to use barrier methods for 7 days until you’re fully protected.

Will Lizinna make me infertile?

Although Lizinna stops you from becoming pregnant, there shouldn’t be any kind of effect on your long-term fertility.

If you stop taking the pill and wish to conceive, it might take a while for your cycle to return to normal, but most women with no underlying health conditions are able to conceive within a year of stopping the pill.

How is my order shipped to me?

When an order is ready for shipping, it is collected and delivered by either the Royal Mail or DPD depending on your preference (or possibly your location or the item you ordered). Each order is assigned a tracking number, which will be emailed to you at the time of dispatch. Your medicine will be sent in plain and discreet packaging that’s eco-friendly. We do not include any branding on our packaging nor any labels which inform readers what type of product is contained within.

Advice on Addiction and Medication Restrictions

If you are at all worried or concerned about an addiction to any type of medication, we urge you to speak to a professional for help and advice. Below are links to organisations that can help.