Marvelon is a combined oral contraceptive pill that assures an effective contraception. It belongs to the category of "third-generation" oral contraceptive pills. Marvelon contains two active ingredients, ethinylestradiol and desogestrel, which are third-generation synthetic versions of oestrogen and progesterone respectively. Clinical trials have shown that in the first year of use, this oral contraceptive pill is 99.99% effective. It means that only one in every 10,000 women has the risk of getting pregnant after taking Marvelon.

How does Marvelon work?
Marvelon is a low-dose oral birth control pill that works to inhibit the development and release of an egg from the ovaries for potential fertilisation. The body is tricked to believe that ovulation has already happened. Ethinylestradiol and desogestrel make the fluid present in the cervix thick in order to prevent sperm from entering the uterus. Moreover, the uterine lining is also altered to prevent implantation of a fertilised egg in the uterus.

Marvelon usage
You can start taking Marvelon pills on the first day of your menstrual cycle to get immediate protection from unwanted pregnancy. These contraceptive pills can also be started on the fifth day of your menstrual period without using any additional contraception. But if you have short menstrual cycles (23 days or less), starting Marvelon on the fifth day of your period may not provide you immediate contraceptive protection. In that case, you should consult a doctor to learn whether you need an additional contraception for the first seven days. You can start taking Marvelon contraceptive pills at any time in your menstrual cycle, but in that case, you won't be getting immediate protection against unplanned pregnancy. You will need to use an additional contraceptive method such as condoms for at least seven days.

Marvelon pills should be taken everyday at the same time for 21 days to get full protection against unwanted pregnancy. Then you will have a seven-day break, which is known as the "pill-free" period. During this time, you may experience withdrawal bleeding because of the drop in the levels of hormones in the body. After seven days, you should start with the next pack of pills.

Marvelon precautions
Marvelon oral contraceptive pills are considered safe for many women. However, you may experience certain side effects if you have any of the following conditions:
1. High cholesterol or diabetes
2. Obese
3. Breast lumps or breast cancer
4. Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding and vaginal itch or irritation
5. Any heart conditions
6. Severe fever due to jaundice, benign or malignant liver tumours
7. Nicotine addiction