Combined pill
There are many different brands of the combined pill, made up of three main types – combined 21 day pills, phasic 21 day pills and everyday (ED) pills.
21-day pills
This is the most common type. Each pill has the same amount of hormone in it. One pill is taken each day for 21 days and then stoped for the next seven days. Microgynon, Marvelon, Yasmine and Cilest are examples of this type of pill.
Phasic 21-day pills
Phasic pills contain two or three sections of different coloured pills in a pack. Each section contains a different amount of hormones. One pill is taken each day for 21 days and then stopped for the next seven days. Phasic pills need to be taken in the right order. Logynon is an example of this type of pill.
Every day (ED) pills
There are 21 active pills and seven inactive (dummy) pills in a pack. The two types of pill look different. One pill is taken each day for 28 days with no break between packets of pills. Every day pills need to be taken in the right order. Microgynon ED is an example of this type of pill.