Dianette

What is Dianette?

Dianette is a combined contraceptive pill that contains the active ingredients cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol.

When taken correctly, the combined contraceptive pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.

You can only Dianette on prescription. 

What is Dianette used to treat?

Dianette is a contraception pill used in the prevention of pregnancy. It will not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); you should still use a condom to prevent the risk of STDs.

Dianette is also prescribed as a treatment for women who suffer from skin conditions like acne, very oily skin and excessive hair growth. It is normally only prescribed to treat skin conditions when you have not responded to other anti-acne treatments, such as topical creams and antibiotics.

How does Dianette work?

Contraception

Dianette contains the active ingredients cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol; this combination is known as co-cyprindiol. Cyproterone acetate is an anti-androgen and ethinylestradiol is a synthetic version of oestrogen. These ingredients work together to prevent pregnancy in three different ways:

• Stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg
• Thickening the mucus in the cervix, making it much harder for sperm to enter the womb
• Preventing the womb lining from thickening enough for an egg to grow within it

Acne

As a treatment for acne, Dianette works to reduce the action of androgens (male sex hormones that stimulate hair and skin growth, as well as oil production). This reduces sebum production and excessive hair growth. You should notice that your skin is less oily after taking this medication for a few weeks, although it can take up to three months for Dianette to take a strong effect.

Who can take Dianette?

Before taking Dianette, you should tell your doctor if you have any illnesses or conditions. Dianette may make some conditions worse.

In particular, you should inform your doctor if:

• You are using any other hormonal contraceptives
• You have or have ever had breast cancer
• You have ever had a heart attack or a stroke
• You have or have had a blood clot in any part of your body
• You have or have ever had any symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or a mini-stroke
• You have any conditions that may increase the risk of a blood clot in your arteries
• You have very high blood pressure
• You have ever had a severe liver disease
• You have an intolerance to certain sugars
• You have ever had liver tumours or any abnormalities in your liver
• You are allergic to Dianette or any of the ingredients contained in the medication
• Do not use this treatment if you have hepatitis C and are taking any medicines that contain ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir or dasabuvir.

Some conditions may be made worse by taking Dianette. Inform your doctor if you suffer from any of the below:

• You are overweight (obese)
• You or your family have had heart or circulation problems
• You or your family have ever had blood clotting issues
• You have ever had a migraine or any visual disturbances
• You have porphyria
• You have inflammation of the pancreas
• You have brown patches on your face or body
• You have any illness that was made worse during pregnancy
• You have high levels of fat in your blood
• You have ever suffered from depression
• You have diabetes

Can you buy Dianette over the counter?

You cannot buy Dianette without a prescription, so it is not for sale over the counter.

Can you buy Dianette online in the UK?

Dianette is a prescription-only medicine (POM). You can buy Dianette online from Medicine Direct, but you will need to complete a confidential online questionnaire to make sure it is safe for you. Your answers will be reviewed by one of our certified prescribers.

Dianette alternatives

There are many different types of contraceptive pills available if Dianette is not suitable for you. However, you should always talk to your doctor before switching from one pill to another.

Other combined contraceptive pills that can also be bought from Medicine Direct include:

• Synphase
• Noriday
• Femodene
• Femodette

Alternatively, some women prefer to take progestogen-only pills (POPs), such as Cerazette or Norgeston. These are often referred to as ‘mini-pills’ and can also be ordered from Medicine Direct after completing an online questionnaire.

For more information on different types of contraception that may be suitable for you, we recommend visiting the Contraception Choices website.