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Zoely is a combined contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy. It works by changing your hormone levels, which affects your monthly cycle. It was approved in Europe in July 2011.
Zoely is different from other pills because it contains estradiol, which is a more natural form of oestrogen. Most common pill brands, like Microgynon or Yasmin, contain ethinylestradiol.
Before Zoely, Qlaira was the only pill available with natural oestrogen. However, unlike Qlaira, Zoely is monophasic. This means the dose of hormones in each pill is the same.
Zoely prevents pregnancy by changing your hormone levels. This prevents the things that need to happen for a pregnancy, including:
Throughout your menstrual cycle, the levels of sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall to trigger these different reproductive processes.
Zoely contains a natural oestrogen and a synthetic progesterone. So, when you take the pill, you supplement these hormones to keep their levels stable. This means none of these critical processes ever happen and therefore you cannot get pregnant.
Zoely has several benefits when it comes to contraception.
Contraception has to work with your lifestyle. So, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of each method before starting a new contraceptive.
Zoely is over 99% effective when used correctly. This is sometimes known as perfect use. However, with typical use, it is around 93% effective. This means 7 in every 100 women will get pregnant on Zoely.
Start taking Zoely on the first day of your cycle. This means it will be effective immediately and you won’t need to use additional contraception.
If you start it any other time, you will need to use barrier contraception (e.g. condoms) or not have sex for at least 7 days.
If you are switching to Zoely and you were previously using a different contraceptive, the advice on when to start will depend on which contraceptive you previously used.
You should start taking Zoely between days 21 and 28 after having your baby.
If you start later than day 28, you will need to use barrier contraception for the first 7 days of taking Zoely. If you have just had a miscarriage, ask your doctor for advice on taking Zoely.
If you are not sure when to start taking Zoely, always ask your doctor or pharmacist.
You need to take Zoely every day for it to be effective. You do not need to take it at the exact same time each day. However, it’s a good idea to take it around the same time to help you remember.
You could set a reminder on your phone to remind you to take it daily or download an app that helps remember your pill schedule.
Each strip of Zoely contains 28 pills: 24 active pills which contain hormones and 4 inactive pills. The active pills are white and the inactive ‘placebo’ pills are yellow.
You must take the 24 active pills and then the 4 inactive pills. Each blister pack is numbered to help you take the pills correctly.
You do not take a pill-free week like other contraceptive pills. Once you finish a strip, you must start a new strip the next day. You should have a withdrawal bleed (period) whilst taking the 4 inactive pills.
Each pack also comes with stickers of the days of the week to help you take your pill correctly. If you start taking Zoely on a Wednesday for example, choose the sticker that starts with Wednesday and place it at the top of the blister pack.
A missed Zoely pill is a pill that is more than 12 hours late. This also includes if you have had persistent vomiting or diarrhoea for 12 hours or more.
The advice is different depending on when you miss a pill. You are at a higher risk of pregnancy if you miss pills at the beginning of the pack or towards the end.
Use our tool below to find out what to do if you have forgotten to take Zoely.
Take the pill as soon as you remember
Take the next pill at your usual time
Your contraceptive protection is not affected
Low risk: Continue as advised
If you're less than 12 hours late, the pill's effectiveness is maintained. Just take it as soon as you can and continue your regular schedule.
Take the last missed pill immediately
Continue taking pills at the normal time
Use a barrier method for 7 days
Contact your doctor if you had sex in the past week
You may be at risk of pregnancy
High risk: Take immediate action
Missing pills in the first week can increase your risk of pregnancy. Additional contraception is crucial, and you may need emergency contraception if you've had unprotected sex.
Take the missed pill immediately
Continue taking pills at the normal time
Your contraceptive protection is not affected
Low risk: Continue as advised
Missing one pill in the middle of your pack is less risky. Your body's hormone levels are usually stable enough to maintain protection.
Take the last missed pill immediately
Continue taking pills at the normal time
Use a barrier method for 7 days
Your contraceptive protection may be reduced
Medium risk: Follow instructions carefully
Missing multiple pills can significantly reduce your protection. Using additional contraception helps ensure you're protected while your hormone levels stabilize.
Take the last missed pill immediately
Continue taking pills at the normal time
Skip the inactive pills
Start a new pack immediately after active pills
Use a barrier method for 7 days
Stop taking active pills
Start taking inactive pills immediately
Start your next pack as normal
Follow Option 1 if unsure about the number of missed pills
High risk: Take immediate action
Missing pills near the end of your pack can extend the hormone-free interval, increasing pregnancy risk. Starting the next pack immediately (Option 1) helps maintain hormone levels and is safer if you're unsure about the number of missed pills.
Discard the missed inactive pill(s)
Continue taking pills as normal
Your contraceptive protection is not affected
Low risk: Continue as advised
Inactive pills don't contain hormones, so missing them doesn't affect your contraceptive protection. However, taking them on schedule helps maintain the habit of daily pill-taking.
Important: If you have forgotten any active pills and do not have the expected withdrawal bleeding while taking the inactive pills, you may be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test and consult your doctor before starting a new pack.
Emergency contraception may be an option within 2-5 days of unprotected sex. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Please note: this missed pill advice is for Zoely only. If you take another combined contraceptive pill, you can use our handy missed pill tool here.
Zoely is suitable for most women who can become pregnant. However, your doctor will want to monitor your health whilst on Zoely. This includes monitoring your weight, blood pressure and lifestyle habits.
Some women may be more at risk of side effects so may not be eligible.
If you have any of the following conditions, you must not use Zoely. This is because there is a very high risk of side effects if you take it.
Do not take Zoely if you:
Your doctor will advise you on what birth control options are safe for you to take.
Some other women may be able to take it but may need specialist advice or regular monitoring to ensure it’s safe for them to take.
This includes if you:
You will also need to be cautious if you have any risk factors for cardiovascular disease or blood clots (venous thromboembolism).
Our doctors at euroClinix will be able to know if it’s suitable for you when you complete our consultation form about your medical history before prescribing you the medication.
If you have multiple risk factors, you will need to consult your doctor before using Zoely.
Like all prescription medicines, Zoely may cause some side effects. However, the most common side effects are mild and should go away on their own once your body adjusts to the medicine.
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Mild side effects can also be managed with simple lifestyle tips. Staying hydrated and taking probiotics will help with diarrhoea and vomiting.
However, if your symptoms don’t go away or you experience more severe side effects, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
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These side effects should go away on their own once you finish treatment. However, consult your doctor.
Rare side effects may affect 1 in every 1,000 people who take this medicine.
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However, the risk is low if you do not have any risk factors for these conditions. Your doctor will decide if it’s safe for you to take.
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For a full list of potential side effects, please consult the patient information leaflet.
Zoely can interact with other medicines you take.
Some medicines may alter how Zoely works, how effective it is or may cause side effects when used together.
This includes:
Always consult your doctor before using Zoely if you take any other medicines.
Category | Status | Advice |
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Alcohol | Safe | It is safe to drink alcohol whilst taking Zoely. |
Smoking | Caution | Smoking could put you at a higher risk of side effects such as heart disease and blood clots. Consult your doctor if you smoke, have smoked or have just quit smoking. |
Pregnancy | Unsafe | It is unsafe to take Zoely while pregnant as it can increase the risk of birth defects. |
Breastfeeding | Safe | You can take Zoely 6 weeks postpartum and is safe for 6 months or more. |
Driving | Safe | Zoely should not affect your ability to drive. |
This medicine does not have any specific storage requirements. However, you should keep it out of sight and reach of children.
You should also not use it past the expiry date. You can see the expiry date on the medicine carton after EXP. The date refers to the last day of the month.
Do not discard expired medicines in general waste or in the toilet. This is bad for the environment. Take your expired medicines to your local pharmacy to dispose.
No, Zoely is not available over the counter. It is only available via prescription from a registered doctor. This is so the doctor can ensure the medicine is safe for you to use. However, if you cannot get to your GP, you can get a prescription from an online healthcare provider such as euroClinix.
Ordering Zoely through euroClinix is simple and secure. Follow these steps:
euroClinix offers ongoing support for any questions. Privacy and security are guaranteed through compliance with the relevant regulatory standards and the use of encrypted transactions.
euroClinix is a trusted online clinic that offers services in several European countries. All consultations and prescriptions are handled by our UK-registered doctors.
The process is convenient with online consultations and discreet home delivery. Our friendly customer service team is always happy to assist with any questions related to our services.
The euroClinix platform is user-friendly for managing prescriptions and reorders securely.
Choosing euroClinix ensures a trusted, professional, and supportive service for all your contraceptive needs.
The main low-dose alternative pill to Zoely is Qlaira.
Qlaira also contains estradiol. However, it is a multiphasic pill. This means that the dose of hormones varies throughout the pack to try and replicate your natural cycle.
Zoely, however, is monophasic. It has the same dose of hormones across all of the active pills. Below is a full comparison of the two.
Zoely | Qlaira | |
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Ingredients | Nomegestrol and Estradiol | Dienogest and Estradiol |
Type of combined pill | Monophasic | Multiphasic |
Active & inactive pills |
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Dosage instructions |
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As well as other combined pills, there are a myriad of contraception options available. You can take our contraception quiz to learn more about what option is best for your lifestyle.
Note: You must complete a short online consultation so that our doctor can ensure that the treatment is suitable for you. The above pricing should only be used as a reference. The final decision to issue this treatment lies with the prescribing doctor.
Group of medication | Combined hormonal contraceptives |
Used for | Contraception |
Active ingredient(s) | Estradiol with nomegestrol |
Works by | Supplements hormone levels to prevent conception |
Effective within | Immediately if taken on the first day of your cycle |
Suitable for | Women who can become pregnant |
Available as | Tablets |
Available strength | 2.5 mg of nomegestrol/1.5 mg of estradiol |
Dosage instructions | Take white tablets daily for 24 days then the yellow placebo pills for 4 days. Repeat each month. |
Manufacturer | Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd. |
Generic available | No |
Storage | Keep out of sight and reach of children, do not store above 30°C and discontinue use after the expiry date. |
Prescription required | Yes - included with our free online consultation. |
Understanding and managing side effects of the pill
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