Lucette

What are Lucette Contraceptive Pills?

Lucette is a combined hormonal contraceptive pill that is taken daily for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break. It contains artificial versions of the female hormones oestrogen (30 mcg of ethinylestradiol) and progestogen (3 mg of drospirenone), and works by inhibiting ovulation and altering cervical mucus and the endometrial (womb) lining.

Some users take Lucette tablets back-to-back for cycle control. It’s also particularly popular among those who want both reliable contraception and additional benefits such as clearer skin, reduced bloating and more regular, less painful periods.

How to Buy Lucette Pills

You can buy Lucette birth control pills from a trusted pharmacy such as Prescription Doctor, provided you have a valid prescription. This is to determine whether the medication is right for your circumstances and that it won’t cause any adverse effects. A doctor or clinician can help with this.

Can I Buy Lucette Online in the USA and UK?

Yes, you can buy Lucette online from Prescription Doctor. Fill out our straightforward online questionnaire, and one of our specialist clinicians will conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment to determine your suitability. With us, there’s no need to wait for an appointment or a face-to-face consultation.

Here’s how our process works:

• Consultation: Complete a secure health questionnaire that outlines your medical history, current health conditions, and lifestyle factors relevant to contraception.
• Assessment: Our registered prescribers review your details to confirm that Lucette is the safest and most effective option for you.
• Decision: If Lucette is suitable, we’ll issue a prescription. If it isn’t, we may recommend an alternative contraceptive pill, or we’ll cancel the order and issue a full refund.
• Delivery: Once approved, we’ll dispatch your medication in plain, discreet packaging.
• Follow-Up: We provide ongoing support once you start Lucette to ensure your contraception remains effective and you feel confident with your treatment.

If you buy Lucette online, ensure that your provider is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and holds a license to supply the medication.

Can I Buy Lucette Over the Counter?

No, Lucette birth control pills are classified as a prescription-only medication, which means they cannot be bought over the counter. Instead, the treatment must be prescribed by a qualified clinician following an analysis of your medical history to assess its suitability and safety.

Is Lucette on the NHS?

Yes, Lucette pills are sometimes prescribed on the NHS, though generic equivalents may be offered instead. Local NHS policies and services may vary, which means that free access on the NHS might not be available. Discuss the matter with your GP or sexual health clinic for more information.

How Does Lucette Work?

The combined nature of Lucette birth control pills means that its active ingredients, ethinylestradiol and drospirenone, work together to prevent pregnancy.

Lucette works in three ways:

• Stops ovulation: It prevents the release of an egg from your ovaries.
• Thickens cervical mucus: Drospirenone makes the mucus at the entrance to your womb thicker and stickier. This makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg.
• Thins the womb lining: Ethinylestradiol helps maintain cycle control, while drospirenone thins the lining of your womb. If an egg were fertilised, it would be less likely to implant.

These three mechanisms make Lucette highly effective when used correctly. Its hormonal profile is similar to Yasmin, with drospirenone providing anti-androgenic effects and mild diuretic properties.

How Effective is Lucette?

Lucette is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if taken correctly (at the same time each day without missing doses). In typical use (where some pills may be missed or taken late), the effectiveness drops to around 91%. In real terms, this means that 9 out of 100 Lucette users will become pregnant. Consistency is key to maintaining protection.

The effectiveness of Lucette can also be affected by other factors, such as interactions with other medications, or becoming ill with symptoms like vomiting or diarrhoea. This is because these two ailments can affect the absorption of the two hormones in Lucette.

Additionally, Lucette helps regulate menstrual cycles and can reduce period-related symptoms like cramps, heavy bleeding and hormonal acne. While there is no single clinical trial exclusive to Lucette, its effectiveness is supported by research on its individual active ingredients and other pills with the same hormonal formulation, such as Yasmin.

How Long Does Lucette Take to Work?

How long Lucette takes to work depends on how far through the menstrual cycle you are. If you start taking the treatment on the first day of your cycle, you’ll be protected from pregnancy straight away. Should you begin on any other day, you’ll need to use additional contraception such as condoms for the first 7 days.

The length of time it takes for Lucette to work can be affected by different factors, such as the duration of your cycle and whether you’re switching from an alternative contraceptive pill. You’ll remain protected for as long as you continue taking it daily.

Who Can Take Lucette Tablets?

Lucette is suitable for many people, but isn’t right for everyone. You may be eligible if you:

• Are aged 18 to 50
• Want reliable, reversible contraception
• Do not smoke (or are under 35 if you do)
• Do not have a history of blood clots or certain health conditions
• Have a BMI of under 35
• Are not breastfeeding within the first 6 weeks of giving birth

Our clinicians at Prescription Doctor will conduct a thorough assessment to ensure Lucette is a suitable option for you. It’s therefore essential that you provide as much information as possible when completing the online questionnaire. This includes your full medical history, as well as any medications or supplements you’re currently taking, including herbal remedies.

How to Take Lucette Birth Control Pills

Lucette comes in 21-tablet strips, with each tablet marked with the day of the week it should be taken. Take one pill daily (ideally at the same time) until the strip has been used up. Then, have a 7-day break before starting up again for another 21 days. Taking the pills on time is crucial to maintaining protection.

During the 7-day break, you’ll likely have a ‘withdrawal bleed’, similar to your period. You’ll still be protected from pregnancy throughout the month (including the 7-day break), provided you take all the pills as instructed.

Other ways to take Lucette include:

• Tricycling: Continue taking your Lucette pills every day without interruption for 9 weeks, omitting the usual 7-day break. This equates to 3 strips of tablets. When you’ve finished the box, take a 4- or 7-day break, then start the cycle again.
• Tailored Pill Taking: Take your Lucette tablets for at least 21 days without interruption. If you experience 4 days of bleeding in a row during this time, you can stop taking your pills for 4 days before restarting another 21-day cycle. You must only use this method if you have taken Lucette for 21 consecutive days.

Both tricycling and tailored regimes are referred to as ‘off-license’ methods, since the tablets are taken in a different manner from how they were originally licensed for use. According to the NHS, there is no evidence that taking combined contraceptive pills in these ways is harmful. If you want to try an alternative method of taking Lucette birth control pills, it’s recommended to speak to a clinician or doctor beforehand.

Lucette Dosage Information

Lucette is a monophasic pill, meaning each tablet contains the same amount of hormones (30 mcg of ethinylestradiol and 3mg of drospirenone). The standard dosing schedule is one tablet per day for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills. In total, this makes a 28-day cycle that repeats continuously.

When taking Lucette, ensure to swallow the pill whole with water. Never chew or break the tablet. You can take it with or without food.

What Happens if I Miss a Lucette Dose?

If you are less than 12 hours late taking your pill, your protection against pregnancy is not affected. Take the missed pill as soon as you remember and then take your next pill at the usual time.

If you are more than 12 hours late taking your pill: Take the last missed pill right away, even if it means taking two pills in one day. Your protection may be reduced at this time, so be sure to use additional contraception for 7 days to reduce your risk of pregnancy.

The risk of protection from pregnancy becoming compromised is greatest if you forget to take Lucette contraceptive pills at the beginning or end of the strip. Therefore, it’s recommended to follow these guidelines:

• More than one tablet is forgotten in this strip

Consult your doctor

• One tablet is forgotten in Week 1 

Take the tablet you’ve forgotten as soon as you remember, even if that means taking 2 pills at the same time. Continue taking Lucette at the usual time and use additional protection for 7 days. If you’ve had unprotected sex during this time, take a pregnancy test or consult your doctor, as you may be pregnant.

• One tablet is forgotten in Week 2

Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if you end up taking 2 at the same time. You will not lose protection against pregnancy, and you should not need additional precautions. If you forget more than one tablet, use condoms or other contraceptives for 7 days.

• One tablet is forgotten in Week 3

In this scenario, there are two possibilities:

1. Take the forgotten tablet as soon as you remember, even if that means taking 2 together. Continue taking the pills at the usual time and then start a new strip once your current one finishes, instead of taking a 7-day break. You will most likely have a period at the end of the second strip, but you may also experience light bleeding.
2. Stop taking your current strip and go directly to the pill-free period. Remember to record the day on which you forgot your tablet. If you want to start a new strip on the same day as you always do, make the tablet-free period fewer than 7 days.

What if I Take Too Much Lucette?

Taking more than one Lucette tablet accidentally is unlikely to cause serious harm, but may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or light vaginal bleeding. Speak to a healthcare professional for advice if you’ve taken multiple tablets by mistake.

Lucette Side Effects

Most people tolerate Lucette well, but side effects can occur, especially in the first few months. Here are some Lucette side effects that you may experience:

The above is not an exhaustive list; please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with the medication for further details.

How to Manage Lucette Side Effects

Most Lucette side effects are mild and settle within the first 2-3 months as your body adjusts to the hormones. To manage some of the most common side effects:

• Nausea: Take your pill after food or in the evening if morning doses cause nausea. Small, frequent meals can also help.
• Headaches: Stay well hydrated and ensure you get enough sleep.
• Breast tenderness: Avoiding caffeine may help reduce discomfort.
• Mood changes: Monitor your mood and speak with your clinician if you feel low for an extended period.
• Irregular bleeding: This is common initially and often settles by the third pack.

If side effects persist or become severe, talk to our clinicians, as they may recommend switching to a different pill to help manage side effects, such as mood changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lucette Pills