Symptoms
What to tell us about your health and bleeding
Contraception is chosen from your medical history more than from a single symptom. Still, headaches, chest pain and unusual bleeding change what is safe.
Treatments
Contraception Online
Request contraception online after a private consultation. UK-registered clinicians review your medical history, with discreet UK delivery if a method is suitable.
Introduction
Treatment overview
Contraception prevents pregnancy. Combined pills, progestogen-only pills, and other methods each have different rules, benefits, and risks — including blood clots with some combined hormones.
Private Pharmacy Care will review ongoing contraceptive options after a consultation, including blood pressure, migraine history, smoking, and medicines that reduce pill effectiveness.
The condition
What is contraception?
Contraception is used to prevent pregnancy. Methods include combined hormonal pills, patches and rings; progestogen-only pills; injections; implants; copper and hormonal coils; barrier methods; and permanent sterilisation. Effectiveness depends on both how well the method works when used perfectly and how easy it is to use in real life.
Combined hormones (oestrogen plus progestogen) can slightly increase the risk of blood clots. They are usually unsuitable if you have migraine with aura, significantly raised blood pressure, a history of clots, or you smoke and are over 35. Progestogen-only methods have a different safety profile. No hormonal method prevents sexually transmitted infections.
Private Pharmacy Care will review ongoing contraceptive options after a consultation when this service is open, including blood pressure, migraine history, smoking and interacting medicines. A clinician decides. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription. Emergency contraception after unprotected sex is a separate, time-critical treatment page. Always read the patient information leaflet.
Causes
Why methods succeed or fail
Pregnancy happens when sperm meets an egg. Contraception fails when the method is not used, not absorbed, or is blocked by other medicines — not because of “bad luck” alone.
Products
Available products
Benefits
Benefits and uses
The right method is the one you can use correctly and that is medically eligible for you. A clinician helps match that, not just repeat the last brand you used.
Method matching
Combined, progestogen-only, or signposting to long-acting methods such as coils and implants.
UKMEC-style safety checks
Migraine with aura, blood pressure, smoking over 35, and clot history all matter.
Missed-pill rules
You will get advice on what to do if a pill is late.
STI reminder
Hormonal contraception does not protect against infections — condoms still matter.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Combined hormonal contraception is unsuitable for some people. Blood pressure should be known. Emergency contraception is a different treatment page.
May be suitable if
- You want ongoing contraception and can give a full medical and migraine history
- You know your recent blood pressure or can obtain it
- You will take pills at the same time each day if that method is chosen
- You understand no method except abstinence is 100%
May not be suitable if
- Migraine with aura and a request for combined hormones — usually not eligible
- History of blood clots, certain heart conditions, or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- You need a coil or implant fitted — that requires a clinic
- You are already pregnant
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Ready to check if a contraception review is right for you?
Start a confidential consultation. If you need emergency contraception after unprotected sex, use that treatment page instead.
- UK-registered clinician review
- Confidential online consultation
- Discreet UK delivery
How it works
How it works
Combined pills prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucus. Progestogen-only pills rely more on mucus and, with some types, ovulation suppression. Enzyme-inducing medicines (some epilepsy, TB, HIV treatments, St John’s wort) can make pills fail.
-
Complete a consultation
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
-
Clinician review
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
-
Dispensing and delivery
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
-
Support if you need it
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
Safety information
Seek urgent care for chest pain, coughing blood, a swollen painful calf, sudden severe headache, or weakness — possible clot or stroke symptoms.
Stop combined hormones and get advice if you develop migraine with aura.
- Tell us about smoking, BMI, and family clot history.
- Use extra precautions with enzyme-inducing medicines.
- Pills do not treat STIs.
- Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Side effects
Side effects
Unscheduled bleeding, breast tenderness, and mood change can occur, especially in the first months.
- Spotting or irregular bleeding Common at the start. Persistent bleeding should be reviewed.
- Nausea or breast tenderness Often settles. Contact us if it is severe.
- Headaches New migraine with aura is a reason to stop combined methods and seek advice.
- Mood change Tell us if mood worsens. Other methods may suit you better.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
How to take or use the treatment
Always follow the patient information leaflet for your specific brand. Missed-pill rules are not the same for every packet. The steps below are general.
-
Take combined pills at a time you can remember
If you run packets without a break, only do so if a clinician has confirmed it is appropriate for that product. Use extra precautions as the leaflet describes after vomiting or missed pills.
-
Take POPs within the licensed window
Set an alarm. If you are late, follow the missed-pill section immediately — do not wait until the next packet.
-
Use extra precautions with enzyme inducers
Ask a clinician before relying on a pill if you start a new medicine or herbal product.
-
Keep condoms for STIs
Hormones do not treat or prevent infections. Consider a sexual health screen when you change partners.
Safety netting
When to seek medical advice
Spotting in the first months is common. Chest pain, a swollen calf, and migraine with aura on combined hormones are not “settle and see” symptoms.
Seek urgent help (A&E) if
- Chest pain, coughing blood, sudden breathlessness, or a swollen painful calf — possible clot; go to A&E.
- Sudden severe headache, weakness, facial droop, or trouble speaking — go to A&E. Stop combined hormones until you are assessed.
- Collapse, seizure, or loss of vision.
- Severe allergic reaction after a new contraceptive — go to A&E.
Contact a clinician or NHS 111 if
- You develop migraine with aura, your blood pressure is high, or you start smoking at 35 or over on combined hormones — contact a clinician before the next pack.
- Prolonged bleeding, pregnancy symptoms, or you think the method has failed — do a pregnancy test and seek advice (emergency contraception has time limits).
- You need a coil or implant, or you want to stop and become pregnant — use a clinic or GP; some methods have a delay before fertility returns (injection).
- Low mood or concern about a blood-pressure reading you cannot check at home — a GP or pharmacy blood-pressure check is needed for safe combined-hormone supply.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
Is this service available now?
Yes. Start an online consultation. Emergency contraception is a separate live page if you need that now.
Can I skip periods on the combined pill?
Some people run packs together. Only do this if a clinician has confirmed it is appropriate for your product.
What if I miss a pill?
Rules depend on which pill and how late it is. Keep the leaflet and ask us or NHS 111 if unsure.
Do I still need condoms?
Yes for STI protection, and as extra pregnancy protection if the pill may have failed.
Why choose us
Why choose Private Pharmacy Care?
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
-
UK-registered clinicians
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
-
Confidential consultations
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
-
Discreet UK dispensing
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
-
Clear safety checks
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
-
Support after you order
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
-
Regulated pharmacy care
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
References and medical sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
- NHS: Contraception Patient-facing NHS guidance.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries UK clinical reference used by healthcare professionals.
- Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) UK Summaries of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets.
- MHRA UK medicines regulator.
Check eligibility
Leave your details
This treatment does not have an online consultation yet. Send your name, email and phone number and our team will contact you about Contraception.
Details received
Thank you. We have received your details about Contraception and will be in touch shortly.
Ready when you are
Start your private healthcare request online.
Browse treatments, start a consultation, or contact the team first if you are unsure which option is right for you.