Modern combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) and progestogen-only pills (POPs) provide 99%+ effectiveness with consistent daily use. The MedsBase Alternative Contraceptives catalogue stocks the major COCP and POP brands, plus emergency contraception. (See also our Contraceptive Pill sub-category.) All products are supplied by WHO-GMP πιστοποιημένους κατασκευαστές.
Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs). COCPs combine ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) with a progestogen, providing reliable contraception plus benefits including lighter periods, predictable cycles, reduced acne, reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, and acceptable safety profile in young healthy non-smokers. Brands by progestogen type: Levonorgestrel-based (cleanest cardiovascular profile, slightly higher androgenic side-effects) — Loette (low-dose 20 mcg EE), Ovral-L (30 mcg EE), Ovral G (50 mcg EE — older high-dose option), Duoluton L, Triquilar (triphasic). Drospirenone-based (anti-mineralocorticoid, may help bloating and PMS but slightly higher VTE rate) — Yaz και Yasmin. Desogestrel-based (lower androgenic side-effects) — Femilon.
Progestogen-only pills (POPs / “mini-pill”). POPs avoid oestrogen and are appropriate for women who cannot take oestrogen (smokers over 35, breastfeeding, migraine with aura, history of VTE or stroke, hypertension). Modern desogestrel POPs maintain ovulation suppression and have a 12-hour missed-pill window (compared to 3 hours for older norethisterone POPs). Stocked as Cerazette (desogestrel 75 mcg).
Emergency contraception. Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg single-dose tablet is the most-used emergency contraceptive worldwide — most effective within 12 hours of unprotected sex, less effective beyond 72 hours. Stocked as i-pill και Postpone 72. See also our dedicated Χάπι της Επόμενης Ημέρας category.
How to choose. First-time COCP user, no risk factors → standard low-dose levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol (Loette, Ovral-L). Bloating, PMS, acne → drospirenone-based (Yaz, Yasmin). Cannot tolerate oestrogen (smoker over 35, migraine with aura, VTE history, breastfeeding) → desogestrel POP (Cerazette). Forgot a pill within 72 hours → emergency contraception (i-pill, Postpone 72), then resume regular pills as instructed in the leaflet.
Important. COCPs raise VTE risk by approximately 2–4× over baseline (still small in absolute terms — around 5–12 events per 10,000 woman-years). Risk factors that increase VTE further: smoking over age 35, BMI > 35, family history of unprovoked VTE, prolonged immobility, recent surgery, hypertension. Migraine with aura is an absolute contraindication to COCPs (stroke risk). Antibiotics (apart from rifampicin / rifabutin) do not significantly reduce COCP efficacy in modern guidance, but St John’s wort and several anticonvulsants do. Missed-pill rules vary by formulation — read the patient information leaflet supplied with each pack.
All MedsBase Alternative Contraceptives ship from WHO-GMP πιστοποιημένους κατασκευαστές with discreet packaging and are covered by our Πολιτική Εγγύησης Επαναποστολής.