In short

  • Microgynon is a type of combined oral contraceptive pill.
  • This means it contains synthetic versions of both oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy.
  • Microgynon is taken for 21 days followed by a 7-day break during which you will have your period.

What is Microgynon?

Microgynon is a type of combined oral contraceptive pill. This means it contains synthetic versions of both oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. Microgynon is taken for 21 days followed by a 7-day break during which you will have your period. However, some women choose to use Microgynon to delay their period and take two packs of pills back to back. 

Can you buy Microgynon over the counter in the UK?

Microgynon is only available on prescription in the UK, however, if you have been prescribed the pill before, you can order repeat prescriptions from a pharmacy, or online pharmacy such as Simple Online Pharmacy. The doctor will check that the pill is safe for you and may discuss other contraceptive options to ensure that you have the right one. When taking the pill, it is recommended that you have a pill check every three months, to check that the pill is still safe for you and that you.

Alternative treatments

There are a number of other combined contraceptive pills available in the UK. Some women are not recommended to take combined pills and may take progesterone-only pills instead. There’s also a wide range of other hormonal contraceptives including the IUS, contraceptive patch, contraceptive injection, the implant and vaginal rings. Non-hormonal options include the copper coil, condoms and the diaphragm.

Sources

References

1 source was selected to match the subject of this article. Link destinations were checked twice when added. This does not mean every statement has been individually source-mapped or clinically approved.

  1. Microgynon 30 ED — Summary of Product Characteristics

    electronic medicines compendium (emc) · HTML · Regulated product information · Link destination checked 5 September 2026

Reference links open the cited source pages. If you spot something out of date, tell our content team.

Who wrote this

Written and reviewed by our team

Authored by

Ian Coakley, Content Writer

Content Writer

Ian is Simple Online Pharmacy’s Content Writer; he joined the team in 2021. He has had a varied career path, starting as a science communicator and freelance editor and writer. While Ian has been published in some independent outfits, Simple Online Pharmacy marks his first foray into writing for a corporate entity.

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Medically reviewed by

Karim Nassar, Co-Founder, Pharmacist & Author

Karim Nassar

Co-Founder, Pharmacist & Author

Karim is a registered pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and was a founding member of Simple Online Healthcare in 2015. With a Master of Pharmacy degree from Strathclyde University, Karim brings a strong foundation in pharmaceutical care and a passion for leveraging digital solutions to improve patient access to healthcare.

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