Swingo

Swingo is a low-dose combined pill containing levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol. With only 0.02 mg of ethinylestradiol, it is one of the lowest-dose combined pills.

The pill has a low risk of thrombosis (due to levonorgestrel).

Swingo prevents pregnancy through the well-known mechanisms:

• Suppression of ovulation
• Thickening of the cervical mucus
• Changes to the endometrium

Ideal for:

• Women who are sensitive to estrogen
• Women who want to minimize side effects
• First-time users

• 0.02 mg ethinylestradiol
• 0.1 mg levonorgestrel
• 21 tablets

Take for 21 days, then a 7-day break.

If you have forgotten a tablet:

• No more than 12 hours late: take the tablet immediately and the following tablets at the usual time again. Contraceptive protection is not reduced.
• More than 12 hours late: contraceptive protection is no longer fully guaranteed. What you do next depends on the week of intake.
• Week 1: take the last forgotten tablet immediately, even if this means taking 2 tablets at the same time, and the following ones at the usual time. For the next 7 days, also use a non-hormonal method, e.g. a condom. If you had sexual intercourse in the 7 days before, pregnancy is possible.
• Week 2: take the last forgotten tablet immediately, even if this means taking 2 tablets at the same time, and the following ones at the usual time. If you took the tablets correctly on the 7 days before the first forgotten tablet, no additional protection is needed. Otherwise, or if you have forgotten more than 1 tablet, use additional contraception for 7 days.
• Week 3: either take the last forgotten tablet immediately, the following ones at the usual time, and start the next pack straight away without a break. Or stop the current pack and bring the break forward: no more than 7 days, including the days on which you forgot to take a tablet; then start the next pack. If you took the tablets correctly on the 7 days before the first forgotten tablet, no additional protection is needed. Otherwise, choose the first option and also use a non-hormonal method for the next 7 days.
• If the next withdrawal bleeding does not occur after forgotten tablets, pregnancy must be ruled out before you start the new pack.

Swingo must not be used in cases of:

• hypersensitivity to levonorgestrel, ethinylestradiol or any of the other ingredients
• existing or suspected pregnancy
• current or previous venous thromboembolism (e.g. deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), including during treatment with anticoagulants
• a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to venous thromboembolism, e.g. APC resistance (including factor V Leiden), antithrombin III, protein C or protein S deficiency
• major surgery with prolonged immobilization
• a high risk of venous thromboembolism due to several risk factors
• current or previous arterial thromboembolism (e.g. heart attack) or early stages such as angina pectoris
• current or previous stroke or early stages such as a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• a known hereditary or acquired predisposition to arterial thromboembolism, e.g. hyperhomocysteinemia, antiphospholipid antibodies, thrombogenic heart valve disease or thrombogenic heart rhythm disorders
• a history of migraine with focal neurological symptoms (e.g. aura)
• a high risk of arterial thromboembolism due to several risk factors or one serious risk factor such as diabetes with blood vessel changes, uncontrolled high blood pressure, a severe lipid metabolism disorder or smoking
• current or previous inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) if it is associated with severely elevated triglycerides (blood fats)
• current or previous liver disease, as long as liver values have not returned to normal (including Dubin-Johnson and Rotor syndrome)
• current or previous liver tumors (benign or malignant)
• known or suspected sex hormone-dependent malignant tumors (e.g. of the breast or the lining of the womb)
• unexplained vaginal bleeding
• absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) of unknown cause
• concomitant use of hepatitis C medicines containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir and dasabuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir

If any of these conditions occurs for the first time while you are taking Swingo, it must be stopped immediately. Women over 35 who continue to smoke are strongly advised to use a different method of contraception.

Common: mild headaches, breast tenderness.