Table 2: Side-effects of combined oral contraceptives
| SIDE EFFECT | POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) | POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS | SUGGESTED BRANDS |
| NAUSEA | Too much oestrogen | Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore, Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Take after food/ in evenings | Zoely | ||
| Consider non oral / non oestrogen options | Nuvaring, POP, LARC, etc. | ||
| BREAK THROUGH BLEEDING | Too little oestrogen | Increase oestrogen strength | Estelle, Minulet, Cilest, Brevinor, Ovranette, Logynon |
| Insufficient oestrogen absorption | Try transdermal or Intravaginal route | Evra, Nuvaring | |
| Too much progestagenic potency | Try less progestagenic brands | Yasmin, Qlaira | |
| Too much androgenic potency | Try less androgenic brands | Mercilon, Marviol | |
| Undiagnosed STI | Out-rule Chlamydia et al | ||
| BLOATING / BREAST TENDERNESS | Too much oestrogen
Too much progestagenic potency |
Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore,Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Consider intravaginal route | Nuvaring | ||
| Try less progestagenic brands | Yasmin, Yasminelle,Yaz, Qlaira | ||
| IRRITABILITY/
DEPRESSION/ LOSS OF LIBIDO |
Too much progestagenic potency | Try less progestagenic brands | Yasmin, Yasminelle,Yaz, Qlaira |
| Try increasing oestrogen dose | Cilest, Brevinor, Ovranette | ||
| HEADACHES | Too much oestrogen | Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore, Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Consider intravaginal route | Nuvaring, Zoely | ||
| HEADACHES during Pill Free Interval | Too much of hormone drop | Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore, Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Shorten or omit pill free interval | Yaz, Qlaira, tri-cycle packets | ||
| ACNE | Too little oestrogen | Increase oestrogen strength | Estelle, Minulet, Cilest, Brevinor, Ovranette, Logynon |
| Insufficient oestrogen absorption | Consider transdermal route | Evra | |
| Too much androgenic potency | Try less androgenic brands | Mercilon, Marviol | |
| Too much progestagenic potency | Try less progestagenic brands | Yasmin, Yasminelle,Yaz, Qlaira, Dianette | |
| WEIGHT GAIN | Too much oestrogen | Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore, Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Too much progestagenic potency | Try less progestagenic brands | Yasmin, Yasminelle,Yaz, Qlaira | |
| THRUSH | Too much oestrogen | Reduce oestrogen strength | Leonore, Microlite, Mercilon,Yaz, Yasminelle |
| Try non oestrogen products |
Reference: Lundy D. Update in contraception, presented at the ICGP Meeting, IMI, Sandyford, April 2012