Types of birth control pills sold in the UK

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knew what types of birth control pills are available in the UK? I'm looking for either "Ortho-TriCyclen Lo" or  "Lo Loestrin Fe".

Thanks!

Nope. They don't really do low dose pills here and tri phasic is pretty uncommon.

Cilest has the same hormones as Ortho-TriCyclen Lo, but the dose is a bit higher and it's monophasic.

I'm not sure what the equivilent to Lo Loestrin Fe is.

The best advice is to bring in the box or packet your pills came in and they can look up the nearest equivilent for you.

I was on a low-dose pill in the UK, without any trouble, so it may be variable depending on where you go? Right now, I'm on a mini-pill. They've been quite willing to work with me and figure out what works best.

Yeah, they don't have a solid equivalent, but they do have tri-phasic pills with a different hormone combination.  TriNovum is the one I switched to when I moved over.  I was originally on the generic version of regular Ortho-TriCyclen and didn't really notice too much of a difference for the first 8 months or so, though after about a year and a half I decided to go off of BC entirely because it made me really irritable.

Like Cali Girl said, they'll be able to go through what they do have and figure something out.  My GP had a book that listed the various kinds and what hormones they were made of, and offered suggestions.  They'll probably start you out on 3 months worth and you can see how you like it.

I was on a low-dose monophasic pill when I lived in the states, and when I went to my GP here for a new prescription, I told him what I'd been taking and he looked it up on the internet and in his books to see what the closest thing to that was. He ended up discovering that it was exactly the same as a pill by another name (Microgynon) and even by the same manufacturer, so I'm on that now. I'm sure if you tell your GP what you were taking before, they'll try to give you the closest thing to that possible.

One nice thing about birth control in the UK too, it's free

I was on a low-dose pill in the UK, without any trouble, so it may be variable depending on where you go? Right now, I'm on a mini-pill. They've been quite willing to work with me and figure out what works best.

I'm constantly trying to get on a lower dose pill, but they never let me! I wish I had your GP!

Just a side note re: birth control in the UK - most of the pill packs will not have the week of placebo pills. I queried this with my doc asking if it was possible to get a pack with the extra week since it helps me keep up the habit of taking them and she said that it wasnt possible, adding "I guess we're just more responsible here" 

I was wondering if anyone knew what types of birth control pills are available in the UK? I'm looking for either "Ortho-TriCyclen Lo" or  "Lo Loestrin Fe".

Hi there. I'm on Loestrin over here. You can't get all types of Loestrin in the UK, unfortunately. I was on Loestrin 24 Fe in the US and had to switch to Loestrin 20 when I came to the UK. Rather than taking 3 weeks on and 1 weeks off, I take 9 weeks on and 1 week off. This is what my GP recommended when I told her I used to only have 4 days off each month.

If you tell your GP what you were on in the US and why (i.e. if you were on a specific type of pill due to endometriosis), they'll probably be able to find what's best for you.

Just a side note re: birth control in the UK - most of the pill packs will not have the week of placebo pills. I queried this with my doc asking if it was possible to get a pack with the extra week since it helps me keep up the habit of taking them and she said that it wasnt possible, adding "I guess we're just more responsible here" 

Really? How strange.. I'm on the same one as Fireheart, Microgynon, and it has a week of placebo pills..

Really? How strange.. I'm on the same one as Fireheart, Microgynon, and it has a week of placebo pills..

That's weird! I've taken microgynon for 12 years and i've never had placebo pills!

ETA - seems there are 2 types! Microgynon and Microgynon ED (every day....)

That's weird! I've taken microgynon for 12 years and i've never had placebo pills!

ETA - seems there are 2 types! Microgynon and Microgynon ED (every day....)

Ah.. Yeah, I take ED.

I took Orth Tri Cyclen Lo in the states, over here I wasn't put on a tri phasic, but I did get put on low dose, it's called Millinette, but Femodette is similar.

Just a side note re: birth control in the UK - most of the pill packs will not have the week of placebo pills. I queried this with my doc asking if it was possible to get a pack with the extra week since it helps me keep up the habit of taking them and she said that it wasnt possible, adding "I guess we're just more responsible here" 

When I was on the pill (in the US), mine came with it but I felt silly taking them and never did. So I really think it boils down to personal preference. *shrug*

Really? How strange.. I'm on the same one as Fireheart, Microgynon, and it has a week of placebo pills..

Yeah thats what I was using when I first came over and loved it.
We then moved to Ireland and its not available there, I think they couldnt find me an exact equivalent so I came off them. When I moved back was put on Cerazette because I couldnt go back to Microgynon as my mother had recently been diagnoses with Breast Cancer... I love being on the mini pill as I dont get a period anymore.

Hi ! Sorry for reviving a 2 year old thread !

But I was searching on the internet for an equivalent of Ortho Tri Cyclen Lo in England. So does anyone know what the equivalent of that is?

I am not sure what monophasic or any of the other terms used in this thread mean  I know I should probably know... I've been on OTCL for many years now, and I would hate to switch to something that might mess up my system or make me break out badly or anything like that. Advice would be appreciated!