Combined oral contraceptive (3rd-generation progestogen)
Ethinylestradiol with gestodene
Brand names: Femodene, Femodette, Katya
Adult dose
Dose: 1 tablet OD per pack regimen
Route: Oral
Frequency: OD
Clinical pearls
- MHRA Drug Safety Update: 3rd-generation progestogens carry ~2× VTE risk vs levonorgestrel — informed consent required
- FSRH UKMEC categorisation
Contraindications
- Standard CHC contraindications
- Higher VTE risk vs 2nd-generation
Side effects
- Breakthrough bleeding
- VTE
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Mood change
Interactions
- Enzyme inducers
- Lamotrigine
Monitoring
- BP
- Migraine status
- BMI
- VTE risk factors
Reference: BNF; FSRH CHC guideline; MHRA Drug Safety Update; UKMEC; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/ethinylestradiol-with-gestodene/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Spinal Anaesthesia Hypotension Management · AAGBI; ASA
- Pre-Eclampsia / Eclampsia in ED · NICE NG133; RCOG Green-top 10A
- Suspected Ectopic Pregnancy · NICE NG126; RCOG Green-top 21
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) · International PCOS Guideline 2023; NICE CKS
- Pre-eclampsia Management · NICE NG133 2019
- Ectopic Pregnancy · NICE CG154 / RCOG GTG 21