✓ Medically reviewed by · Last reviewed: May 2026
Pharmacy Researcher · 8 years experience
Pharmacy researcher with 8 years reviewing clinical drug information, generic formulation equivalence, and international pharmaceutical standards. Focuses on patient-facing accuracy in medication education.
Quick Answer
- Diane-35 contains cyproterone acetate 2mg + ethinyl estradiol 0.035mg. It is both an oral contraceptive and an anti-androgen treatment.
- Primarily prescribed for hormonal acne, hirsutism (excess hair), and seborrhoea — acne that doesn’t respond to topical treatments or antibiotics.
- Also functions as a reliable oral contraceptive pill — 99%+ efficacy with perfect use.
- Available at MedsBase without prescription. WHO-GMP certified. Worldwide shipping.
What Is Diane-35?
Diane-35 is a combined oral contraceptive pill manufactured by Bayer. Its active ingredients are cyproterone acetate (2mg) — an anti-androgen — and ethinyl estradiol (0.035mg) — a synthetic oestrogen. This combination makes it unique among contraceptive pills: it actively reduces androgen levels, making it effective for conditions driven by elevated or normal-but-sensitive androgens.
What Is Diane-35 Used For?
- Hormonal acne — particularly moderate-to-severe facial acne in women that hasn’t responded to topical retinoids or antibiotic treatment
- Hirsutism — unwanted facial or body hair caused by androgen excess
- Seborrhoea — oily skin driven by androgens
- Androgenetic alopecia (female pattern hair loss) — less common use, but effective in androgen-sensitive cases
- Contraception — as effective as other combined pills
- PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) — manages the androgenic symptoms of PCOS
How to Take Diane-35
Take one tablet daily for 21 days, starting on day 1 of your period. Then take a 7-day break (during which a withdrawal bleed occurs). Start the next pack after the 7-day break, whether or not the bleed has finished. Take at the same time each day — consistency within a 12-hour window maintains contraceptive efficacy.
Diane-35 vs Yasmin vs the Combined Pill — What’s Different?
| Pill | Progestogen | Anti-androgen effect | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane-35 | Cyproterone acetate | Strong | Hormonal acne, hirsutism, PCOS |
| Yasmin/Yaz | Drospirenone | Moderate | Mild acne, bloating |
| Standard pill (Microgynon etc.) | Levonorgestrel | None (mildly androgenic) | Contraception only |
Side Effects of Diane-35
- Common (5–10%): Nausea (take with food), breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, reduced libido, spotting in first 1–2 cycles
- Uncommon but important: Slight increased VTE (blood clot) risk vs progestogen-only pills — lower risk than pregnancy itself, but relevant for women with clotting history
- Not associated with: Permanent fertility reduction — fertility returns to baseline within 1–3 cycles after stopping
Where to Buy Diane-35 Online
MedsBase stocks Diane-35 (cyproterone 2mg / ethinyl estradiol 0.035mg) — the original Bayer formulation or equivalent generic manufactured to WHO-GMP standards. No prescription required. Discreet packaging. Worldwide shipping.
🛡️ Reshipment Assurance: Every order covered by our Reshipment Assurance Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diane-35 only for acne or can I use it just as a contraceptive?
Diane-35 is effective as a contraceptive, but most guidelines recommend using a conventional combined pill (Microgynon, Yasmin) for pure contraception, and reserving Diane-35 for cases where there is also an androgenic indication (acne, hirsutism). In practice, many women use it for both purposes simultaneously.
How long before Diane-35 clears hormonal acne?
Most women see meaningful improvement after 3 cycles (3 months). Full benefit — especially for deep cystic acne — takes 6 months of consistent use. If there is no improvement at 6 months, reassess whether the acne is truly hormonal.
Can I take Diane-35 while breastfeeding?
No. Oestrogen-containing pills (including Diane-35) can reduce milk supply and are not recommended during breastfeeding. A progestogen-only pill or non-hormonal contraception is the appropriate choice while nursing.
Will Diane-35 cause weight gain?
Clinical data does not support significant weight gain with Diane-35. Some users experience fluid retention in the first 1–2 cycles which resolves. Any perceived weight changes are typically attributable to normal fluctuation rather than fat accumulation.
What is the contraceptive pills diane 35 dose?
One tablet daily for 21 days, then a 7-day break. This is the standard 21/7 regimen. The dose is fixed — there is no dose titration with Diane-35.
Not sure whether your pill pack is still within date? See our guide on does birth control expire — covering pill, ECP, patch, and condom shelf life.
Written by
Sophie ChenPharmaceutical Content Researcher · 8 years experience
Sophie Chen is a pharmaceutical content researcher with 8 years covering generic medication access and clinical pharmacology. She specialises in international regulatory frameworks, bioequivalence standards, and patient-facing education on therapeutic drug classes. She is not a clinician.