Efficacy and choice of pill

The risk of pregnancy during the first year of use is 9%. With perfect use the failure rate is less than 1% ¹.

There is no robust evidence for decreased efficacy in heavier women. Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) advice is that women over 70kg should be advised to take only one POP each day (traditional or desogestrel).

Desogestrel is first line choice and should be prescribed generically.

The drospirenone pill is not yet marketed in the UK. 

Note

• noriethisterone POP is marketed as Noriday
• levonorgestrel POP is marketed as Norgeston

12 months’ supply of currently marketed POP costs the NHS between £10 and £40 depending on
contract purchase costs. Price for the new drospirenone POP is unknown.