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Bedfordshire and Luton Joint Formulary
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB
Formulary Chapter: 7 - Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and urinary-tract disorders 
Notes:

Any drug not listed on the Formulary should be considered Non-Formulary - Not recommended for prescribing
07.03.01 Combined hormonal contraceptives
BLMK Emergency Contraception Guidance Combines Oral Contraceptive (COC) Missed pill advice from CKS

Ethinylestradiol 20 mcg / desogestrel 150mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Current cost effective brands in primary care are Gedarel 20/150® or Bimizza®. They are more cost effective than Mercilon®.

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 20 mcg / gestodene 75 mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Millinette 20/75®, Akizza 20/75®, Femodette®

 

Entry reviewed: September 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 30 mcg / drospirenone 3 mg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Current cost effective brands in primary care are Dretine® or Yacella® which are more cost effective than Yasmin® and Lucette®  

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 30 mcg / levonorgestrel 150 mcg
(Generic)

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

  • Current cost-effective brands in Primary Care are Levest®, Rigevidon® and Maexeni®
  • The above brands are more cost effective than Ambelina®, Elevin®, Microgynon 30® (also ED) and Ovranette®

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 30mcg / desogestrel 150mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Preferred brands in primary care are Gedarel 30/150® or Cimizt®. They are are more cost effective than Marvelon®.

Entry reviewed: September 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 30mcg / gestodene 75 mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Preferred brands: Millinette 30/75®

Entry reviewed: July 2025

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 35 mcg / noresthisterone 1mg (Norimin®)

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 35 mcg / noresthisterone 500 mcg (Brevinor®)

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Ethinylestradiol 35 mcg / norgestimate 250 mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Some preparations are not suitable for patients with peanut allergy or soya allergy - check individual SPCs for details.

Brands include: Lizinna® and Cilique® 

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Transdermal patch norelgestromin 203 micrograms/ ethinylestradiol 33.9 micrograms (Evra®)

GREEN
Formulary

Not a cost effective option, consider only where alternative contraception has been tried, LARC is unsuitable and compliance issues with oral contraception.

Note: Limited evidence to suggest risk of VTE may be higher compared to COC

Entry reviewed: October 2024

BNF BNFc SPC

Vaginal ring ethinylestradiol 15 mcg/ etonogestrel 120 mcg

GREEN
Formulary

Not a cost-effective option, consider only where alternative contraception has been tried, LARC is unsuitable and compliance issues with oral contraception.

Note: Limited evidence to suggest risk of VTE may be higher compared to COCs.

1st line - Syreniring® - cost-effective preferred brand

2nd line - NuvaRing®

Entry reviewed: September 2024

BNF BNFc SPC
Classifications
GREEN
May be initiated in any care setting
Amber SPA
Specialist to advise therapy and provide first 28 days supply, continuation in Primary Care
Amber SPIS
Specialist to initiate and stabilise medicine prior to continuation in Primary Care
SCG
To be prescribed as per Shared Care Guidance. If no SCG in place status reverts to red.
RED
Red medicines are designated as specialist only medicines which should only be prescribed by a specialist, usually within secondary care (either due to the requirement for specialist knowledge, long-term monitoring requirements, or restrictions that mean medicine supplies are only available to hospitals).
DNP
A decision has been made either locally and/or nationally not to routinely commission this preparation. Do not prescribe.
SELF
To be purchased over the counter. May be prescribed for chronic, long term conditions or on admission to hospital if essential.