Prescription Only Medication (POM)
Mercilon tablets are a combined oral contraceptive pill you take to prevent pregnancy. This low-dose contraceptive contains two types of female sex hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. Mercilon tablets are a 21-day pill – you take one each day for 21 days, followed by 7 days when you take no pills.
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Mercilon is a hormonal birth control pill that contains the synthetic versions of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progestin. It prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. Mercilon is considered a low-dose oral contraceptive because it has relatively low amounts of oestrogen and progestin compared to some other birth control pills.
The hormones in Mercilon work together to disrupt the menstrual cycle and ovulation, which blocks an egg from being released. By preventing ovulation, no egg can be fertilised by sperm. The progestin in Mercilon also thickens the mucus in the cervix, preventing sperm from passing through and reaching any released eggs.
The two primary hormones in combined oral contraceptive pills, such as Mercilon, are oestrogen and progestin. Together, they prevent the body from getting pregnant.
Oestrogen: This hormone aids in maintaining the uterine lining’s stability and inhibiting its growth. In an effort to keep sperm from reaching an egg, it thickens cervical mucus. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is also suppressed by oestrogen to prevent ovulation.
Progestin: A synthetic hormone which thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from dividing. In order to further inhibit ovulation, it suppresses luteinising hormone (LH). Progesterone thins the lining of the uterus, preventing fertilisation of an egg.
By inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and thinned uterine lining, these two hormones act together to prevent pregnancy.
Mercilon Tablets comes in packs of 21 pills. Each pill is marked with the day of the week it should be taken. Mercilon Tablets should always be taken orally, usually with water. These are the commonly given instructions, but your prescriber may give you different instructions for use:
Take 1 pill every day at the same time.
Start with the pill marked for the correct day of the week.
Follow the arrows on the pack to take the pills in order.
Swallow each pill whole with water if needed. Do not chew the pills.
After taking the 21 pills, you will have 7 pill-free days. For example, if you take the last pill on a Friday, start the new pack on the next Saturday.
During the pill-free week, you will likely have withdrawal bleeding, like a period. This may still be going on when it’s time to start the new pack, but don’t worry as this is normal.
You don’t need backup contraception during the 7 break days if you took the previous packet correctly.
Start the new packet on time after the break, even if you are still bleeding. You should start each new pack on the same day of the week. If you take Mercilon Tablets correctly, you will be greatly protected against pregnancy.
You can find the directions for use in the patient information leaflet.
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