LOVIMA ®
Treatment options
Buy LOVIMA ® safely, securely and easily in a few simple steps. Start a consultation today to check your eligibility with a prescribing clinician, at no cost to you.
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What to do if you missed your LOVIMA ® dose
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Cerazette
About Lovima
Lovima is a progesterone-only mini pill containing desogestrel as its active ingredient. It is used to provide protection against pregnancy. It does not contain an oestrogen as would combined contraceptive pills.
Lovima works by stopping the release of an egg each month from the ovaries, preventing ovulation during the menstrual cycle. It also makes cervical mucus thicker, making it more difficult for sperm to pass through the cervix, and makes the lining of the womb thinner, so fertilised eggs are less likely to implant in the uterus wall.
Now Patient offers the Lovima birth control pills for the prevention of pregnancy only, following an online consultation with a prescribing clinician.
Key facts of Lovima
- For the prevention of pregnancy
- There is no evidence that the Lovima pill causes weight gain
- Lovima has some common side effects which include headache and migraine
- It can be dangerous if you take Lovima with certain medications. If you’re not sure if it is safe, discuss this with the prescribing clinician
- Lovima will not prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) through unprotected sex
Who is Lovima not suitable for?
Lovima may not be suitable for some people. To make sure it’s safe for you, speak to the prescribing clinician before taking Lovima if you:
- Are allergic to peanut, soya, the active ingredient desogestrel or the inactive ingredients such as lactose monohydrate, soybean oil, polyethylene glycol, or titanium dioxide
- Have ever had a blood clot in the leg or lungs
- Have a family history of heart attacks or stroke
- Have ever had angina or transient ischaemic attack
- Suffer from migraines with aura
- Have a liver disease, liver tumours or any other liver problems
- Have kidney disease
- Have ever had breast cancer or cancer of the cervix, vagina or uterus
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding
- Have suffered from jaundice, pemphigoid gestationis (a rash involving blisters of the hands and feet), or pruritus while pregnant
- Have a family history of breast cancer
- Have pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Have diabetes
- Have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- Have haemolytic uraemic syndrome, high blood cholesterol, or sickle cell anaemia
- Have epilepsy
- Have systemic lupus erythematosus
How and where to get Lovima?
Lovima is available with a prescription and over the counter at a local pharmacy.
Now Patient does not allow customers to buy Lovima directly. Our service is certified, safe and effective, and we only ever treat conditions. If you book a consultation with one of our prescribers for a contraceptive, you can discuss if Lovima is a suitable treatment option for you.
At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is suitable for you. If it is, the clinician will issue you with a prescription which can then be ordered, paid for and delivered directly to your chosen address by Now Patient.
Dosage and strength for Lovima for contraception
The Lovima blister pack contains 28 Lovima 75 microgram film coated tablets.
Information about how to take Lovima for contraception
Take 1 Lovima tablet each day, at the same time every day. Start a new pack of Lovima tablets immediately after completing the previous pack. Take your first tablet in order of the day of the week and follow the directions printed on the pack.
If you forget to take a Lovima tablet, take the missed pill as soon as you are able to do so, if it has been less than 12 hours. If you do not take the missed pill within 12 hours of your usual time, you will not be protected against pregnancy. You will need to use an extra form of additional contraception such as a condom for the next 48 hours. Read the patient information leaflet or speak to your healthcare provider for further medical advice.
What happens if you take too much Lovima?
If you take more than prescribed, then it can lead to some unpleasant side effects. You should talk to your doctor or reach out to one of our prescribing clinicians, if you have taken too much Lovima and you experience any of the following side effects.
What are the side effects of Lovima?
Side effects of Lovima are split into common and serious.
Common side effects include:
- Breast tenderness
- Breast pain
- Weight changes
- Breakthrough bleeding between periods
- Mood changes
- Headache and migraine
- Nausea, stomach upset, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal thrush
- High blood pressure
- Hair loss
Serious side effects include:
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Cervical cancer
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
If you experience any serious side effects, you should contact NHS 111.
If you experience a serious allergic reaction with the signs shown below you should contact emergency services on 999.
- Your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- You’re breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you’re choking or gasping for air)
- Your throat feels tight or you’re struggling to swallow
- Your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- You suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- Someone faints and cannot be woken up
Always report adverse effects to the MHRA yellow card reporting system. You can read more about this here How and where do I report side effects of my medication? – NowPatient
Information about taking Lovima at the same time as other medications or herbal supplements
There is not enough evidence to suggest there are any drug interactions between herbal remedies and Lovima. In any event, you should let your prescribing clinician know if you are taking any herbal supplements or other medications such as:
- Epilepsy treatments – phenytoin or carbamazepine
- Rifampicin
- HIV medicines – ritonavir
- Hepatitis C medicines – telaprevir or boceprevir
- Antifungal medicines – ketoconazole or griseofulvin
- St John’s Wort
- Medicines for high blood pressure, chest pain or irregular heartbeats – diltiazem or verapamil
Why might Lovima not work for contraception?
Lovima may not work for you and common reasons may be:
- Missed pills
- Taking other medicines that interfere with Lovima
- Lovima not being absorbed due to vomiting and diarrhoea
Can Lovima taken for contraception be taken long term?
Using medication like Lovima is safe, provided your doctor has approved it. You should speak to your doctor when deciding to stay on hormonal contraception long term.
Is there a herbal Lovima?
No. Herbal Lovima does not exist. If you have been marketed such a formulation, it may be fake.
Can women use Lovima?
Women can take Lovima for contraception, but should speak to a doctor if considering taking Lovima while breast-feeding (Lovima has not been seen to affect breast milk).
Should I avoid any particular food or drink when taking Lovima?
You can eat and drink normally when taking Lovima.
Alternatives to Lovima
Alternative methods of contraception include:
- Implants
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
- Oral birth control pills (combined oral contraceptive pill and progestogen only pill)
- Vaginal rings
- Barrier method – condoms, diaphragms
- Tubal ligation and vasectomy
- Emergency contraception containing levonorgestrel
Sources
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information in this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Important Information
What does Lovima pill do?
Does Lovima cause weight gain?
Does Lovima work straight away?
Does Lovima have side effects?
How quickly does Lovima work?
Can you get pregnant on Lovima?
Who can't take Lovima?
Is Lovima a morning after pill?
Does Lovima stop ovulation?
What are the disadvantages of the mini pill contraceptive?
Does Lovima contain Oestrogen?
Does Lovima stop periods?
Can the mini pill cause weight gain?
What to expect when coming off the mini pill?
How long does it take for Lovima to work?
How soon will I bleed after stopping the pill?
Which mini pill is most likely to stop periods?
How effective is the Lovima pill?
Will I get a period on the mini pill?
Should I come off the mini pill?
Who owns Lovima?
How safe is Lovima?
Is Lovima the same as cerazette?
Why am I bleeding on Lovima?
How long does it take for Lovima to work?
What is the Yasmin birth control scandal?
Is the mini-pill still a contraceptive?
What hormones are in the Lovima pill?
What is the new name for Yasmin pill?
What is the difference between Hana and Lovima?
Is Lovima a good pill?
Is Lovima a mini pill?
Does Lovima contain estrogen?
Which oral contraceptive pill is best?
Does Hana pill cause weight gain?
Is the mini-pill better than the pill?
Is Zoely better than Yasmin?
What is the pill most like Yasmin?
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