Katya Pill

What is Katya?

Katya is a combined hormonal contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. Katya contains ethinylestradiol and gestodene, which are synthetic forms of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Katya is also a great option for women who suffer from heavy, painful and irregular periods. It is taken for 21 days with a 7-day pill-free break, where most women will have a withdrawal bleed, like a period.

Katya contains the same amounts of both active ingredients as the equivalent pills, Femodene and Millinette 30/75.

What is Katya used for?

The combined contraceptive pill is used to prevent pregnancy. However, combined pills don’t stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and therefore it is always recommended that additional barrier contraception is used such as a condom.

Taking Katya can also help some women to experience lighter and more regular periods as well as providing some relief from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and improve the condition of the skin.

How does Katya work and how effective is it?

Katya, like other combined pill forms of contraception, works by mimicking the female body's natural hormones, preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus making it harder for a sperm to reach the egg.

When taken as directed in the Patient Information Leaflet, Katya is around 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Katya Alternatives

The Katya pill is an effective form of contraception. But it’s not the only option available to you. We’ve listed some of the other combined contraceptive pills you can take below:

Cilique

Cilique is a combined pill, a type of contraception that contains synthetic versions of progesterone and oestrogen — two female hormones. It’s up to 99% effective in stopping pregnancy.

Levest

Levest is a very common combined contraceptive pill that contains the same ingredients as other popular pills, Microgynon and Rigevidon.

Alternatively, a progesterone-only pill may be a suitable alternative:

Cerelle

Cerelle is a progesterone-only contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation in the female body. A key feature is that you get a window of 12-hours to take a replacement pill if you miss one.

Desogestrel

Desogestrel is a contraceptive that doesn’t contain oestrogen. Its active ingredient is desogestrel, a progestin medication that’s taken orally.

Feanolla

Feanolla is an oral contraceptive that contains desogestrel, a synthetic version of progesterone (a female sex hormone). Feanolla can be taken by women who are breastfeeding.

Lovima

Lovima is an over-the-counter contraceptive pill. It’s a progesterone-only pill which means it doesn’t contain oestrogen.

Find out more about alternative types of contraception

You can learn more about the birth control available to you by reading our guide to the different types of female contraception.

Sources

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill/
• https://patient.info/medicine/combined-hormonal-contraceptives#nav-4
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/ethinylestradiol-with-gestodene.html

How do you take Katya?

The Independent Pharmacy can prescribe Katya for women over the age of 18 years for oral use only.

Take 1 Katya tablet for 21 days and then have a pill-free break for 7 days. After the 7 days start your next strip of tablets.

During your 7-day pill-free break your hormone levels will drop causing you to have a withdrawal bleed, similar to a period. You will still be protected from pregnancy within this week as long as you have taken your pills correctly, as detailed in the Patient Information Leaflet.

Starting Katya

If you have not used any contraceptive with hormones in the previous month:

Start Katya on the first day of your period. You are immediately protected against pregnancy and do not need to use additional barrier contraceptives.

If you start Katya any time after day 1 of your period you must use additional barrier contraceptives such as condoms for 7 days.

Switching from another combined hormonal contraceptive pill:

Start Katya the day after your last pill from your previous pill packet. Do not have a 7-day pill-free break. If you start Katya after your 7-day break you will need to use an additional barrier contraceptive such as condoms for 7 days.

Changing from a progestogen-only pill, injection, implant or a progesterone-releasing IUD:

You may switch to Katya, on any convenient day, from the progestogen-only pill, or from the day of removal of an implant or an IUD and the due date of the injection. In all of these cases, you must use an additional barrier contraceptive such as condoms for 7 days.

After having a baby:

You can start taking Katya between 21 and 28 days after having a baby. If you start taking Katya later than day 28 you must use an additional barrier method of contraception such as condoms for the next 7 days.

What do I do if I miss a Katya pill?

When taking Katya, missed pills have consequences. If you forget to take your daily Katya tablet, or you are sick or have severe diarrhoea within 3-4 hours after taking your tablet, take it as soon as you remember or when you feel better, even if this means taking 2 tablets on the same day.

If you are more than 12 hours late taking your Katya tablet:

• You will not be protected from getting pregnant and should use additional barrier contraception such as a condom for 7 days.

You are at more risk of becoming pregnant if you miss multiple tablets within one packet or if the Katya 30/75 missed pill is at the start or the end of your packet. If you think you have become pregnant while taking Katya you should speak to a doctor immediately to get advice.

If you are less than 12 hours late taking your Katya tablet:

• You will be protected from getting pregnant. You will not need to use additional contraception.

Katya Ingredients

Each Katya tablet contains the active ingredients: 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol and 75 micrograms gestodene.

Each Katya tablet also contains the inactive ingredients: Magnesium stearate, Povidone K-25, Maize starch, Lactose monohydrate, Povidone K-90, Macrogol 6000, Talc, Calcium carbonate, Sucrose, Wax montan glycol.

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly to ensure you are aware of all the ingredients included in Katya tablets.

Katya side effects

Katya may cause some women to experience side effects but all medicines affect people in different ways. Most side effects will improve within the first 3 months of taking oral contraception but if they do not get better you should speak to a doctor for advice.

Some of the common side effects of Katya include:

• Sickness and vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Headaches and migraines
• Breast tenderness and enlargement
• Weight gain/loss
• Water retention
• Candidiasis (vaginal thrush)
• Breakthrough bleeding

If you experience any severe side effects or symptoms of an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing or swelling to the lips, face and tongue you must seek immediate medical attention either by calling 999 or attending your nearest emergency department.

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Katya or any other form of hormonal contraceptive.

Katya warnings

There are some specific medical conditions that may mean you are unable to take Katya. To ensure Katya is right for you, you must be accurate when recording details of your current and previous health and all medicines that you currently take.

Please make sure that you have read the full list of warnings and precautions in the Patient Information Leaflet before taking Katya.

• You should not take Katya if you have ever had a blood clot, problems with your heart or liver (including if you’ve had a liver disease and your liver function hasn’t yet returned to normal), or you are at risk of having a stroke or suffer from migraines.
• You also should not take Katya if you have high blood pressure, have high levels of fat in your blood or have ever had breast cancer or cancer of the genital organs.
• You should discuss with your doctor before taking Katya if you have diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, sickle cell anaemia, HUS or SLE or if you have a disease that first appeared during pregnancy.
• You should tell your doctor if you have recently been taking or are currently taking any other prescribed or non-prescribed medication.

Katya and blood clots

The use of combined hormonal contraceptives, including Katya, can increase a woman's risk of developing arterial and venous blood clots or venous thrombosis.

The risk of blood clots rises:

• During the first year of taking a combined hormonal contraceptive.
• As you get older
• If you are overweight or obese
• If you have a family history of blood clots
• After you have had an operation or had an extended period of immobilisation

Katya and cancer

Taking combined oral contraceptives, such as Katya, can slightly enhance the risk of developing breast cancer. This risk appears to decline once contraception is stopped.

Women who take Katya must regularly check their breasts for any changes and you should contact your doctor if you are concerned.

Katya in pregnancy & breastfeeding

You should not take Katya during pregnancy. If you think you have become pregnant while taking any oral contraceptive you should speak to a doctor for advice. Taking Katya while breastfeeding is also not advisable, you should speak to a doctor or nurse for advice about your contraceptive options.