Microgynon 30 coated tablets 0.15 mg/0.03 mg (levonorgestrel, ethinylestradiol) – combined oral contraception

Microgynon 30 is a combined oral contraceptive tablet (the "pill") containing two female sex hormones: the progestogen levonorgestrel (0.15 mg) and the oestrogen ethinylestradiol (0.03 mg). The hormones prevent pregnancy in three ways: they stop an egg being released from the ovaries, they thicken the mucus in the cervix so that sperm enters the womb with more difficulty, and they prevent the lining of the womb from thickening enough for an egg to grow.

Microgynon 30 is a 21-day pill: one tablet is taken every day for 21 days, followed by a 7-day break. When used correctly it is one of the most reliable reversible methods of contraception, and it usually makes periods more regular, lighter and less painful. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. In Serbia it is available only on prescription, and before starting the doctor assesses personal and family risk factors, especially for blood clots.

How is Microgynon 30 taken correctly and what should you do if you miss a pill?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Microgynon 30 used for?

Microgynon 30 is used to prevent pregnancy (oral contraception). According to the leaflet, the benefits include:

• one of the most reliable reversible methods of contraception, if used correctly;
• it does not interrupt sex;
• usually more regular, lighter and less painful periods;
• it may help with premenstrual symptoms.

The medicine does not protect against sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or HIV – only condoms can help protect against them. Before starting, the doctor asks about illnesses in the family, measures blood pressure and rules out pregnancy; regular check-ups and cervical smears are needed during use.

How is it used and dosed?

Basic regimen: 1 tablet every day at the same time for 21 days, following the arrows and days of the week on the blister. Swallow the tablet whole with enough water; do not chew. Then there are 7 tablet-free days, during which a period-like bleed usually occurs. Start the next pack on the eighth day even if bleeding is still going on – always on the same day of the week. No additional contraception is needed during the 7-day break if the tablets were taken correctly.

Missed tablet:

• Vomiting or severe diarrhoea within 4 hours of a tablet: follow the advice for a lost tablet (take a tablet from a spare pack or the last one from the same pack); if symptoms last longer than 12 hours, follow the advice for a missed tablet.
• Lost tablet: take the last tablet from the pack (your cycle will be one day shorter) or a tablet from a spare pack.
• Starting a new pack late or a break longer than 7 days: you may not be protected – use condoms for 7 days and ask a doctor if you have had sex in the last 7 days.

Special patient groups

• After giving birth: the risk of blood clots is increased – agree on when to start with your doctor.
• Breastfeeding: your doctor may advise another method of contraception.
• Women over 35 and smokers: the risk of heart attack and stroke is higher; the doctor may advise another method.
• Before surgery or prolonged immobility: the medicine may need to be stopped at least 4 weeks beforehand.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

Microgynon 30 must not be used if you:

• are allergic to levonorgestrel, ethinylestradiol or any of the excipients;
• have or have had a blood clot in the legs (DVT), lungs (PE) or other organs;
• have a blood clotting disorder (e.g. protein C or S deficiency, antithrombin III deficiency, factor V Leiden, antiphospholipid antibodies);
• need surgery or are unable to move for a long time;
• have had a heart attack or stroke, angina pectoris or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA);
• have severe diabetes with blood vessel damage, very high blood pressure, very high blood fats or hyperhomocysteinaemia;
• have or have had migraine with aura;
• have or have had breast cancer;
• have had severe liver disease and your liver tests have not returned to normal, or have had a liver tumour;
• have hepatitis C and take medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir, dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir.

Precautions and warnings

• Tell your doctor if you have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, systemic lupus, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, sickle cell anaemia, pancreatitis or raised triglycerides, varicose veins or superficial thrombophlebitis, diabetes, porphyria, migraines, obesity, or if you have recently given birth.
• Risk of venous thrombosis: about 2 in 10,000 women per year without contraceptives, and about 5–7 in 10,000 women using a levonorgestrel-containing pill such as Microgynon 30. The risk increases with obesity (BMI > 30), age (especially over 35), thrombosis in the family before age 50, surgery, immobilisation and recent childbirth; flights longer than 4 hours may temporarily increase it.
• The risk of arterial thrombosis (heart attack and stroke) increases with age, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, migraine, heart valve disease and atrial fibrillation, diabetes and raised blood fats.
• Combined contraceptives slightly increase the risk of breast cancer (returning to normal about 10 years after stopping) and are associated with rare liver disorders; a slight increase in the risk of cervical cancer is possible.
• Depression and depressed mood have been reported, sometimes serious – contact your doctor as soon as possible if your mood changes.
• Symptoms of angioedema (swelling of the face, tongue, throat, difficulty swallowing or breathing) require urgent contact with a doctor.
• The medicine contains lactose and sucrose.

Interactions with other medicines, alcohol and food

Some medicines may reduce the blood levels and reliability of Microgynon 30, e.g.:

• some medicines for epilepsy;
• some medicines for HIV and hepatitis C (protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors);
• griseofulvin (antifungal);
• certain antibiotics;
• barbiturates (sedatives);
• St John's wort (herbal remedy).

With these medicines additional contraception or another method may be needed – your doctor or pharmacist will tell you for how long. Microgynon 30 may also affect the action of other medicines and the results of some blood tests. It must not be used with the hepatitis C combinations listed above; it can be restarted about 2 weeks after that treatment ends. There are no special restrictions on food and drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Microgynon 30 must not be used during pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, do a test before stopping the pill. If you become pregnant, stop taking it and see your doctor; becoming pregnant right after stopping will not harm you or the baby. During breastfeeding your doctor may advise another contraceptive method – breastfeeding does not prevent pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, it is best to use another method after stopping until your first natural period.

Driving and using machines

Microgynon 30 has no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Possible side effects

Serious side effects – see a doctor immediately: blood clots in veins or arteries (rare, up to 1 in 1,000 users) – in the leg, lungs, heart, brain, liver, intestine, kidneys or eye; signs of a severe allergic reaction or angioedema; signs of breast or cervical cancer; signs of serious liver problems (severe upper abdominal pain, jaundice, itching all over the body).

Breakthrough bleeding and spotting may occur in the first months (usually stopping), as well as chloasma (yellow-brown skin patches, reduced by avoiding sun and UV lamps), onset or worsening of chorea, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and conditions that worsen in pregnancy (jaundice, itching, gallstones, lupus, herpes of pregnancy, otosclerosis, hereditary angioedema, porphyria).

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Several tablets at once: unlikely to cause harm, but nausea, vomiting and vaginal bleeding may occur (also in girls who swallow the medicine accidentally) – see a doctor if symptoms occur.
• Missed tablet: follow the table above (the 12-hour and 7-day rules).
• No bleed during the break: pregnancy is unlikely if tablets were taken correctly; start the next pack on time, and if the bleed is missed again or tablets were missed – do a pregnancy test.
• Stopping: if you are planning a pregnancy, use another method after stopping until your first period, to make dating the pregnancy easier.

Composition, packaging and manufacturer

• Active substances: 0.15 mg levonorgestrel and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol per coated tablet.
• Tablet core: lactose monohydrate; maize starch; povidone K25; talc; magnesium stearate.
• Coating: sucrose; povidone K90; macrogol 6000; calcium carbonate (E170); glycerol 85%; titanium dioxide (E171); yellow iron oxide (E172); glycol montanate; talc.
• Pack: 1 PVC/Al blister with 21 coated tablets; each tablet is marked with a day of the week.
• Marketing authorisation holder: BAYER D.O.O. BEOGRAD, Omladinskih brigada 88b, Belgrade. Authorisation 515-01-00919-22-001 of 31 March 2023.

Storage

• Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
• Store below 25 °C.
• Do not use after the expiry date stated on the blister and carton.
• Return unused medicine to a pharmacy that collects unused medicines from the public.

Frequently asked questions

Am I protected during the 7-day break?

Yes – if you have taken all 21 tablets correctly and start the next pack on time, no additional contraception is needed during the 7-day break.

What if I am more than 12 hours late with a tablet?

Take the last missed tablet immediately, continue as usual and use condoms for the next 7 days. If fewer than 7 tablets are left in the pack, start the next pack without a break. If you missed tablets in the first week and had sex, contact a doctor or pharmacist.

Do antibiotics reduce the effect of Microgynon 30?

According to the leaflet, certain antibiotics, as well as some medicines for epilepsy, HIV and hepatitis C, griseofulvin, barbiturates and St John's wort may reduce the effect of the pill. Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you whether additional contraception is needed and for how long.

When can I get pregnant after stopping?

Pregnancy is possible immediately after stopping and will not harm you or the baby. The leaflet advises using another method until your first natural period so the doctor can more easily calculate the due date.

Related information

For additional care and support with contraception, see also the Condoms category – products in this category do not replace the medicine you have been prescribed.

Sources

• ALIMS – Package leaflet for Microgynon 30, 0.15 mg/0.03 mg, coated tablets (PDF, Serbian)
• ALIMS – Summary of product characteristics for Microgynon 30 (PDF, Serbian)
• ALIMS – Decisions on changes of manufacturer 1 January–30 April 2026 (Microgynon 30, 15 January 2026)

Sources checked on: 23 October 2026.