• Hana is a contraceptive pill for women who want to prevent pregnancy.
• Take one tablet at the same time every day, without any break between packs. Always read “When and how to take the tablets” before starting Hana.
• If you forget to take Hana,

• If you are less than 12 hours late, take the delayed pill straight away and take your further pills as usual. Hana will still protect you from pregnancy.
• If you are more than 12 hours late, take the most recently missed pill straight away and leave any earlier missed pills in the strip. Take your further pills as usual. Use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) for the next 7 days. Missing tablets at any time in the cycle can reduce the efficacy of Hana and risk pregnancy but if you have missed one or more tablets in the first week of taking Hana and had sex in the week before missing the tablets, the risk you may get pregnant is higher. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Hana is a daily contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy for women of childbearing age. It is an oral hormonal contraceptive (often called “the pill”). Hana works primarily by preventing a woman’s egg cell from ripening (prevents ovulation); it also has effects on cervical mucus which makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb.

Hana contains a small amount of one type of female sex hormone: a progestogen called desogestrel. Unlike the combined pill, Hana does not contain any oestrogen hormone, in addition to the progestogen. For this reason, Hana is called a progestogen-only pill (POP).

Other methods of contraception are available with a prescription that might suit you better. Talk to your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse if you want more information.

In contrast to the combined pill, Hana can be used

• by women who cannot take oestrogens, or do not want to
• by women who are breast-feeding.

If you think you are post-menopausal, talk to your doctor. You may not need to take contraceptives.

Hormonal contraceptives, including Hana, do not protect you against HIV infection (AIDS) or any other sexually transmitted disease. Only condoms can protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

This product does not work as an emergency contraceptive. If it’s taken every day it will protect against pregnancy in the future.

Do not take Hana

• if you have cancer that is affected by sex-steroid hormones, such as certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer
• if you have a blood clot in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• if you have, or have had, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) or severe liver diseases and blood tests show your liver has not returned to normal
• if you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding between your periods, or if you repeatedly have bleeding after sex
• if you are allergic to desogestrel, or any of the other ingredients of Hana
• if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. 

When and how to take the tablets

Hana will not prevent pregnancy unless taken exactly as directed.

Take one tablet at the same time every day, without a break between packs.

Swallow the tablet whole.

Choose a convenient time of day. It is best to link this to something you already do at the same time every day. For example, when you wake up, or when you brush your teeth.

Never skip your daily tablet. Take it every day, even when you bleed or have spotting (see Section 4, “Possible side effects”).

The Hana pack contains 28 tablets. The days of the week are printed on the pack, and arrows show the order to take the tablets. Every time you start a new pack of Hana, take a tablet labelled with the correct day. For example, if you start on a Wednesday, you must take a tablet marked with Wed. Don’t start with just any tablet.

Continue to take one tablet a day until the pack is empty, following the direction shown by the arrows.

When a pack is empty, you must start with a new pack of Hana on the next day, without a break, and without waiting for a bleed.

Starting your first pack of Hana

Not currently using hormonal contraception:

If you are not using hormonal contraception now or in the past month (for example, pill, vaginal ring, skin patch, injection, implant, hormone-containing coil (IUS)), wait for your period to begin.

• it is preferable to take your first tablet on day 1 of your period. When doing so, you do not need to use extra contraception
• if you take your first tablet on days 2–5 of your period, use extra contraception (for example, condoms) for the first 7 days of taking the tablets

Changing from a combined pill:

• if you have had your usual break from a combined pill, take the first Hana tablet on the day after your break, or when you have taken all the inactive tablets of your other contraceptive. If you follow these instructions, make sure you use extra contraception (for example, condoms) for the first 7 days of taking Hana
• if you haven’t had your usual break from a combined pill, start taking Hana on the day after you take the last tablet from your present pill pack. Even if your other pill pack contains inactive tablets, you can start Hana on the day after taking the last active tablet. If you are not sure which this is, ask your pharmacist. If you follow these instructions, you do not need extra contraception

Changing from a vaginal ring or skin patch:

• if there has been a break between removal of the vaginal ring or skin patch (ie. you are not starting Hana on the day of removal of the ring or patch), make sure you use extra contraception (for example condoms) for the first 7 days of taking Hana
• if you start taking Hana on the day of removal of the vaginal ring or skin patch, you do not need extra contraception

Changing from another progestogen-only pill:

Switch on any day from another progestogen-only pill. You must start the day after you stop your other pill. You do not need extra contraception.

Changing from an injection, implant or hormone-containing coil (IUS):

When changing from an injection, start using Hana on the same day the injection is due. You do not need extra contraception.

When changing from an implant or hormone-containing coil (IUS), start Hana the same day the IUS or implant is removed. Your doctor will advise you when the IUS should be removed and whether you need any extra contraception.

Starting or resuming Hana following emergency contraception:

Ask your pharmacist for advice on how to start taking or resume taking Hana following emergency contraception. If you have taken emergency contraception, it is advisable to wait until day 1 of your next menstrual period before taking Hana.

Emergency contraception containing levonorgestrel can be used with Hana. If you have used emergency contraception containing levonorgestrel during your cycle, you can start or continue taking Hana the same day, but you must use additional contraception (for example, condoms) every time you have sex for the next 7 days.

Using Hana and emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate together can alter the effect of both these medicines, resulting in reduced contraceptive effect and increased risk of pregnancy. If you have used emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate during your cycle, you must wait 5 days after taking ulipristal acetate before taking Hana and you must also use additional contraception (for example, condoms) every time you have sex during the 5 days while you wait to start or resume taking Hana and for the first 7 days of taking Hana (ie. for a total of 12 days).

If you have had a baby:

You can start Hana any day between day 1 and day 21 after the birth of your baby.

If you start later than 21 days afterwards, make sure that you use extra contraception (for example, condoms) for the first 7 days of taking Hana. If you have already had unprotected sex, take a pregnancy test or talk to your doctor before starting Hana. Information for breast-feeding women can be found in section 2.5, “Pregnancy and breast-feeding”.

Your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse can also advise you.

If you have had a miscarriage or an abortion:

You can start Hana immediately or within 5 days of a miscarriage or an abortion. You do not need extra contraception. If in doubt, your doctor or family planning nurse will advise you.

Talk to your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse before taking Hana:

• if you have had cancer that is affected by progestogen hormones, such as certain types of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer
• if you have had a blood clot in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism)
• if you have liver cancer or other liver problems
• if you have high blood pressure
• if you have diabetes
• if you have epilepsy
• if you have tuberculosis 
• if you have had chloasma (yellowish-brown pigmentation patches on the skin, particularly of the face).

If any of these apply to you, you may still be able to take Hana but your doctor may want to see you from time to time.

It is common for women taking Hana to have bleeding patterns that are different from their usual periods. Some women will have bleeding less often, or none at all; some will have bleeding more often. Bleeding patterns may settle with time. A change in your bleeding pattern is not something you should normally be worried about if you are taking your pill as directed

Breast cancer is rare in women under 40 years old. The risk increases as women get older. See your doctor as soon as possible if you feel any lumps or see a change in your breasts. The risk of breast cancer is slightly higher in women taking any contraceptive pill, as compared to women of the same age not on the pill. The risk with progestogen-only pills, such as Hana, is thought to be similar to that in women on the combined pill. It may be lower, though more research is needed to be certain.

Compared to the risk of getting breast cancer ever in life, the increased risk associated with the combined pill is low. It may be that women on the combined pill were examined more often, so that the breast cancer was noticed earlier.

When women stop taking the pill, their risk of breast cancer gradually reduces so that, within 10 years of stopping, their risk is the same as for those who have never taken it.

Blood clots in major arteries and veins are rare but can cause serious health problems. The risk of a blood clot is higher in women on any type of contraceptive pill (but no higher than the risk in pregnant women). The risk with progestogen-only pills, such as Hana, is thought to be lower than in women on the combined pill, but this has yet to be confirmed.

A clot in the deep veins of the leg (called a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) can cause the following symptoms, usually in the calf:

• swelling of the leg
• redness and warm skin
• severe pain in the leg

A clot in the leg can travel to the lungs and stop there (a pulmonary embolism), which can be fatal. Signs of a blood clot in the lungs include:

• chest pain
• breathlessness
• coughing up blood.

Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the signs above. Do not take Hana if you have a blood clot.

Being immobile can increase your risk of a blood clot. Consult your doctor at least four weeks before planned surgery to see whether you should stop using Hana during that time.

Hana consistently inhibits ovulation and so reduces the risk of pregnancy outside the womb. However, contact your doctor immediately if you have sudden or severe pain in the lower abdomen or stomach area with or without vaginal bleeding, even if you don’t think you are pregnant.

Some women using hormonal contraceptives, including Hana, have reported depression or depressed mood. Depression can be serious and sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Tell your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse if you are taking any other medicines, have recently taken any, or might in the future. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription, and herbal remedies.

If any pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse prescribes you another medicine, tell them that you take Hana. They can tell you if the other medicine is OK to take at the same time, and whether you need to use extra contraception (for example, condoms).

If you are using these medicines or herbal remedies listed below either chronically or for long-term treatment, you should consult your doctor as an alternative method of contraception may be more appropriate for you.

Substances which may lead to unexpected bleeding and/or contraceptive failure in women using Hana

These include treatments for:

• epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, barbiturates, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, topiramate, phenobarbital)
• tuberculosis (e.g. rifampicin, rifabutin)
• HIV infections (e.g. efavirenz)
• pulmonary arterial hypertension: high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (bosentan)
• depression (the herbal remedy St. John’s Wort)
• fungal infections (e.g. griseofulvin)

All these medicines or herbal remedies can stop Hana working properly.

If you are using any of these medicines or herbal remedies for short-term treatment, you can continue taking Hana, but you must also use extra contraception (for example, condoms) every time you have sex during treatment and until 28 days after stopping the last dose of the other medicine or herbal remedy.

If you are using any of these medicines or herbal remedies either chronically or for a long-term treatment, you should consult your doctor for further advice.

Substances increasing the blood levels of Hana

These include medicines used for the treatments of:

• fungal infections (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole)
• certain bacterial infections (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• high blood pressure, angina or certain abnormal heart rhythm (e.g. diltiazem)

The leaflet for these medicines needs to be consulted to identify potential interactions and any recommendations. Ask your pharmacist for advice.

Substances with variable effects on the blood levels of Hana

These include treatments for:

• HIV infections (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine)
• hepatitis C virus infection (e.g. boceprevir, telaprevir)

The leaflet for these medicines needs to be consulted to identify potential interactions and any recommendations. Ask your pharmacist for advice. In case of doubt, you must use extra contraception (for example, condoms) during treatment with these medicines.

Hana may also interfere with how other medicines work, causing them to either have an increased effect (e.g. medicines containing ciclosporin) or a decreased effect (e.g. lamotrigine).

For more advice, ask your pharmacist.

Taking emergency contraceptive containing ulispristal acetate

Using Hana and emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate together can alter the effect of both these medicines, resulting in reduced contraceptive effect and increased risk of pregnancy.

If you have used emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate during your cycle, you must wait 5 days after taking ulipristal acetate before taking Hana. You must also use additional contraception (for example, condoms) every time you have sex during the 5 days while you wait to start or resume taking Hana and for the first 7 days of taking Hana (ie. for a total of 12 days).

For more advice, ask your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant

Do not use Hana if you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test or talk to your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse if your period is late after missing any pills in the last month, or if you think you may be pregnant. If you become pregnant, stop taking Hana and see your doctor.

Signs that you may be pregnant include: a missed period, tender breasts, feeling sick, tiredness, and mood swings.

If you are breast-feeding

Hana may be used while you are breast-feeding. Desogestrel, the active substance of Hana, does not appear to influence the production or the quality of breast-milk. However, there have been infrequent reports of a decrease in breast milk production while using desogestrel. A small amount of desogestrel passes into the milk.

Researchers have followed children who were breast-fed for 7 months while their mothers were using desogestrel. The children’s health was studied up until they were 2½ years old. No effects on their growth or development were seen.

If you want to get pregnant

If you decide you want to become pregnant, simply stop taking Hana. Hana will not delay your ability to get pregnant.

Hana has no known effect on your ability to drive or use machines.

Hana contains lactose (milk sugar). Contact your doctor before taking Hana if you have been told by a doctor that you are intolerant to some sugars.

It is important that you continue to have regular smear tests (cervical screening) while taking Hana.

If you are worried you may have got a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) including HIV (AIDS), go for a check-up at a sexual health clinic as soon as you can. Many STIs, like HIV, have no symptoms at all. The only way to know for sure that you do not have an STI is to get tested. Only barrier methods (such as condoms) can protect you from sexually transmitted infections.

Immediately

• if you have severe pain or swelling in either of your legs; unexplained pains in the chest, breathlessness, an unusual cough, or if you cough up blood (possibly a sign of a blood clot).
• if you have a sudden or severe pain in the lower abdomen or stomach area with or without vaginal bleeding, even if you don’t think you are pregnant (possibly a sign of an ectopic pregnancy, a pregnancy outside the womb).
• if you have a sudden severe stomach ache or look jaundiced (you may notice yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, or dark urine, possibly signs of liver diseases).

As soon as possible

• • if you feel a lump or see changes in your breast (possibly a sign of breast cancer)
  • if you have unusually heavy vaginal bleeding or if you repeatedly have bleeding after sex
  • if you think you are pregnant.

If you are due to have surgery that will make you immobile, consult your doctor at least four weeks in advance.

If you were due to take the dose less than 12 hours ago:

• Take the delayed pill straight away.
• Take your further pills as usual. This may mean taking two pills in one day.
• Don’t worry, your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

If you were due to take the dose more than 12 hours ago:

• Take the most recently missed pill straight away. Leave any earlier missed pills in the strip.
• Take your further pills as usual. This may mean taking two pills in one day.
• Use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) for the next 7 days.
• If you have missed one or more tablets in the very first week of taking Hana and had sex in the week before missing the tablets, the risk of getting pregnant is higher than at any other time in your cycle. Ask your pharmacist for advice and if you need to use emergency contraception.

If your period is late after missing any pills in the last month, or if you think you may be pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

Stop taking Hana and see your doctor

If you vomit within 3-4 hours of taking Hana, the pill should be considered ‘missed’ and the advice under section 3.3 “If you forget to take Hana” followed. If you have severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, Hana may not have been completely absorbed and contraceptive effect may be reduced. You should use additional contraception (for example, condoms) for the duration of the illness and for the first 7 days of normal pill taking.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your pharmacist for advice.

There have been no reports of serious harmful effects from taking too many Hana tablets at one time. Symptoms can include nausea and vomiting and, in young girls, slight vaginal bleeding. For more information, ask your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse.

You can stop taking Hana whenever you like. From the day you stop, you are no longer protected against pregnancy.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your pharmacist, doctor or family planning nurse.

Please refer to the information leaflet for detailed information regarding possible side effects.

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use Hana after the expiry date which is stated on the carton label and blister foil. The expiry date is the last day of that month.

Do not store above 30°C. Use within 3 months of first opening of the sachet.

The active substance could cause an environmental risk to fish. Do not throw away any medicines via waste water or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help to protect the environment.

This medication can be bought from us or any other registered pharmacy without a prescription. To purchase this item, please ensure that the safety questionnaire is completed (this should have appeared when opening this page). This helps our responsible pharmacist ascertain the safety and suitablity of this medicine. 

Once you completed the Goodcure safety form that appears automatically when you click on your desired treatment, you can close the pop up window and continue with your purchase. The responsible pharmacist will review your answers to ensure that this treatment is safe and suitable for you before issuing the supply. All requests are usually reviewed within the hour (during work hours).

This information is required so that the pharmacist can get in touch with you if they need more information to ascertain the safety and suitability of this treatment.

Patient confidentiality is one of our top priorities, both the form you fill and the phone consultation are strictly confidential between you and the pharmacist.

The price you see is inclusive of the consultation fee, so you will not have to pay anything extra and there are no hidden fees.

When you make a purchase, it is usually reviewed within the hour. If a purchase is made outside of work hours, it will be reviewed the next working day. Items are shipped either the same or the next day and you will recieve a notification when it is shipped.