Gestodene
progestogen · hormonal contraception
Our referenceBy the Layer Nutrition editorial team · How the atlas classifies the 664 molecules
What this medicine is for
Pharmacologically, Gestodene relates to the category “progestogen (hormonal contraception)”. This hormone is part of hormonal contraception: taken each day, it prevents ovulation and makes the body unfavorable to a pregnancy, reversibly.
In the case of Gestodene, this means: Component of a hormonal contraception. It is generally taken over the long term, within regular monitoring, and is not stopped on your own initiative.
Under which brands it is found
In France, about 11 reimbursable presentations containing Gestodene are recorded. It is found under several brand names and as generics.
- Carlin
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Bgr
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Biogaran
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Cristers
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Eg Labo
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Teva
- Gestodene/Ethinylestradiol Viatris
- Harmonet
- and other presentations
Generics and the original brand are equivalent for the active substance; only the appearance, the name or the excipients may differ.
Our product for this treatment
Gestodene is one of the everyday treatments for which we have formulated a targeted supplement.
Layer Nutrition Contraception
Vitamin B6 helps you regulate your hormonal activity and reduce tiredness. Folate supports normal blood formation.
- Contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity (vitamin B6)
- Contributes to the reduction of tiredness (B6, folate, B12)
- Contributes to normal psychological function (B6, folate, B12)
B6 10 mg · Folate 250 µg · B2 4.2 mg · B12 50 µg
One bottle, one dose per day. Reduced price from the second box, free delivery from two boxes.
How gestodene works
Gestodene is a synthetic progestogen, derived from 19-nortestosterone and classified in the gonane subgroup. In the body, it acts as a potent agonist of the progesterone receptor, for which it shows a very high progestational affinity. It also has notable androgenic affinity, but its androgenic potential remains low in practice thanks to a favourable progestational-to-androgenic ratio. Finally, it binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor, where it exerts a mild antimineralocorticoid effect.
In a combined pill, gestodene is paired with a synthetic estrogen, ethinylestradiol. Together they prevent pregnancy through three complementary routes. The first blocks ovulation by suppressing the mid-cycle LH surge, the signal that triggers the release of the egg. The second thickens the cervical mucus, which becomes a barrier that sperm struggle to cross, while the third alters the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, and makes it unsuitable for implantation.
Why this pill is prescribed
The combination of gestodene and ethinylestradiol is prescribed for oral contraception, as well as for the recognised gynaecological indications of estrogen-progestogen products. The most common form brings together 75 micrograms of gestodene and 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol, with versions containing a lower estrogen dose, at 20 or 15 micrograms. The use of a progestogen as potent as gestodene stems from its high progestational affinity, which allows reliable cycle control at a very low dose.
Taken by mouth, gestodene passes almost entirely into the blood, with a bioavailability of about 96%. Its concentration reaches its peak one to two hours after intake, and its elimination half-life lies between 12 and 15 hours, which justifies once-daily dosing. Once in the circulation, it is nearly 98% bound to plasma proteins: about 64% to the globulin that transports sex hormones, SHBG, about 34% to albumin, and only about 2% circulates in free, active form. The liver eliminates it by transforming it through reduction and hydroxylation.
Taking it every day
The standard blister pack contains 21 tablets. One is taken each day, at a set time, starting on the first day of the period, and then a seven-day interval without a tablet is observed before starting the next pack. The tablet is swallowed with a little water and its effectiveness does not depend on meals, which leaves the time of day free, as long as it stays the same from one day to the next.
Regularity is what makes the method effective: a missed pill or a significant delay opens a window in which ovulation can resume. In the event of vomiting or diarrhoea in the hours following intake, absorption may be incomplete, as with a missed pill, and additional protection becomes necessary. Any decision to stop or change the pill is made with the doctor or midwife overseeing the contraception, never alone, because stopping immediately exposes you to a risk of pregnancy.
The effects to know about
Some effects occur in at least one woman in a hundred. The most common affect digestion, mood and the breasts: nausea, abdominal pain, weight gain, headaches, depressed mood, breast tension and breast pain. They often appear at the start and frequently ease after the first few cycles, as the body adjusts to the new hormonal balance.
Other effects are uncommon, between one woman in a thousand and one in a hundred: vomiting, diarrhoea, migraine. Rarer still, in fewer than one woman in a thousand, there is contact lens intolerance, skin rashes, hives and chloasma, those brown patches on the face encouraged by the sun. These effects most often remain mild, but a symptom that persists or causes concern should be reported during follow-up.
The vascular risk
The serious effect to be aware of is the risk of clots, both venous and arterial. A venous thrombosis can form in a leg, as phlebitis, and travel to the lungs as a pulmonary embolism; on the arterial side, the risk concerns myocardial infarction and stroke. This risk, low in absolute terms, is higher than that of a woman without hormonal contraception and varies according to the progestogen used.
The European Medicines Agency has quantified this risk for venous thrombosis. Without hormonal contraception and outside pregnancy, it occurs in about 2 cases per 10,000 women per year. With pills containing levonorgestrel, norethisterone or norgestimate, there are 5 to 7 cases per 10,000, and with those containing gestodene, desogestrel or drospirenone, the figure rises to 9 to 12 cases per 10,000. This level remains low, but it weighs in the choice of pill, alongside age, smoking and personal and family history.
On the plate
Oral contraception affects the balance of several micronutrients. A review of the literature reports that it is accompanied by a decrease in several of them, including folate (vitamin B9), vitamins B6 and B12, zinc and magnesium, together with a rise in copper and vitamin A. The extent of these variations differs from one woman to another. The plate acts on the same ground, by providing these nutrients through simple, regular foods.
Folate is found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, in legumes (beans, peas, lentils) and in citrus fruits. Vitamin B6 is provided by salmon and tuna, banana, legumes, chickpeas, meats, poultry and nuts. Vitamin B12, for its part, comes only from animal products: fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products; it is missing from unfortified plant foods, which makes it trickier to cover for those who eat few animal products. When the plate is not enough to meet these intakes, a targeted supplement, in addition to your contraception and never in its place, makes sense.
Interactions and monitoring
Some medicines reduce contraceptive effectiveness by speeding up the elimination of hormones by the liver. This is the case with enzyme inducers: rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates and St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), a plant used for mild low mood. While taking them, and during the 28 days that follow stopping them, a barrier method such as a condom is added to the pill to stay protected.
Follow-up of combined contraception is arranged with the doctor or midwife, who checks blood pressure, weighs the medical history and adapts the method over time. Certain signals call for prompt advice: pain or swelling in a calf, chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, unusual headaches or vision problems, which may signal a thrombosis. This regular dialogue makes it possible to keep the best-suited contraception at each stage of life.
Sources
- Gestodène : pharmacologie, pharmacocinétique et usage clinique
- Femodene 75/30 : Résumé des caractéristiques du produit (Bayer), sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.5 et 4.8
- Combined hormonal contraceptives : référence au titre de l'article 31 (PRAC)
- Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements (PMID 23852908)
- Folate in diet
- Vitamin B6 in diet
- Vitamin B12 in diet
Related molecules
To explore in the « Hormones and contraception » family and its neighbours.
See the whole « Hormones and contraception » family · Back to the atlas
Frequently asked questions
What is gestodene?
Gestodene is a so-called third-generation progestogen, used in combined contraceptive pills where it is paired with an estrogen, ethinylestradiol. For the details of your specific product and its dosage, refer to the package leaflet and to your doctor or pharmacist.
What are the side effects of gestodene?
The package leaflet notably mentions headaches, bleeding between periods, breast tenderness, nausea and mood changes. The full list and rare effects are set out in your pill's package leaflet: talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any bothersome symptom.
Does gestodene cause weight gain?
A change in weight is among the adverse effects reported with oral contraception. If you notice marked weight gain, the leaflet advises discussing it with your doctor, who can reassess your contraception.
Does gestodene increase the risk of a blood clot?
The leaflet states that third-generation pills containing gestodene carry a risk of phlebitis or embolism roughly twice as high as a second-generation pill with levonorgestrel, while remaining low overall. This risk and your personal factors (smoking, medical history) should be assessed with your doctor.
What is the difference between a 2nd- and 3rd-generation pill?
The generation depends on the progestogen used: gestodene belongs to the third generation. The leaflet notes that these pills are generally reserved for women who do not tolerate a second-generation pill. The choice is up to your doctor based on your profile.
What should I do if I miss a pill?
What to do depends on the dosage and the time elapsed since your usual time: the leaflet details the number of hours beyond which effectiveness may be reduced. If in doubt, take the missed pill as soon as possible, continue the pack and ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
My period is late on gestodene, should I worry?
A late period, especially after one or more missed pills, warrants a pregnancy test before starting a new pack. If in doubt or if you have unusual symptoms, get in touch with your doctor or a family planning centre.
Does gestodene have any interactions?
Some medicines (including enzyme inducers) and St John's wort can reduce contraceptive effectiveness. Always report your other treatments to your doctor or pharmacist and check the interactions section of the package leaflet.
Can gestodene affect your mood?
Mood changes, including a depressed state, are among the effects reported in the package leaflet. If your mood changes markedly, speak to your doctor promptly, as they can reassess the contraception.
Can you take gestodene during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
Combined contraception is not intended for pregnancy, and its use during breastfeeding is a matter for medical advice. If you are pregnant, think you may be, or are breastfeeding, stop and consult your doctor; refer to the package leaflet.
Which nutrients should you watch when taking gestodene contraception?
Research links combined oral contraception to a lowered status of folate, vitamin B6 and magnesium (Palmery et al., 2013). These are the three elements worth watching, without any cause-and-effect link being established. A blood test can be discussed with your doctor.
In what form should you consider folate, B6 and magnesium?
For folate, the methylfolate form (5-MTHF) is preferred, as it is directly absorbable; for vitamin B6, the pyridoxal-5-phosphate form (P-5-P); for magnesium, a well-tolerated form such as bisglycinate. It is this intake of folate, vitamin B6 and magnesium that Layer Nutrition's CO01 reference aims to supplement, drawing on the data from Palmery et al. (2013).
Ces réponses portent sur le volet nutritionnel. Pour toute question sur votre médicament, la notice et votre médecin ou pharmacien font foi.