About Zoely®

ZOELY® is an oral contraceptive tablet (birth control ‘pill’) that contains small amounts of two hormones, nomegestrol acetate (a progestogen) and estradiol (an oestrogen).1

These hormones are similar to those that are produced naturally in your body.1
  • Estradiol or E2 is identical to the oestrogen in your body.1
  • Nomegestrol acetate or NOMAC is a pure progesterone similar to that produced in your body.1
ZOELY® tablets contain the ideal combination of hormones for naturally balanced contraception.2
ZOELY Tablets

The Zoely® Pack

Each blister pack of ZOELY® contains 28 tablets:1

  • 24 active white tablets
  • 4 inactive yellow tablets

ZOELY® is the first pill of its kind, proven to effectively prevent pregnancy, yet be respectful to your body.2,4

The same amount of hormones are contained in each of the 24 active white tablets.1

The 4 inactive yellow tablets do not contain any hormones.1
ZOELY® Pack Shot
Zoely®’s safety and effectiveness has been thoroughly proven in the largest study performed on combined oral contraceptives (COCs). This study included 101 498 women, from 1st time users through to menopause.3

NATURALLY
DEPENDABLE3

Naturally Dependable

NATURALLY DEPENDABLE3

How Zoely® Works

The hormones in ZOELY® work hand-in-hand.2
Prevent ovulation (stops the monthly release of an egg by the ovaries).2,4 Changes the mucous produced by the cervix4
  • Thickens the cervical mucous, affecting the ability of sperm to reach the egg.1
  • Changes the lining of the uterus making it less suitable for egg implantation.5
ZOELY® provides naturally balanced protection.2

How To Take Zoely®

Pills
24/4 Regimen1,6
ZOELY Pack
Each pack of ZOELY® begins with 24 white active tablets followed by 4 yellow placebo (inactive) tablets.6
  • Place the day label sticker provided (corresponding to your starting day e.g. Wednesday) on the blister over the words “Place day label here”.6
  • Take the tablet from left to right per row of tablets as indicated by the arrows on the blister pack.6
Start taking ZOELY® on the first day of your menstrual period.6
Your tablet can be taken with or without food.1
Take your tablet at the same time every day.1
Take one tablet every day for 28 consecutive days.1
Calendar
When you have not used any hormonal
contraceptive in the past month

ZOELY® protects you from the very first pill when you start taking it on the first day of your menstrual period.6

NB
If you start taking ZOELY® from days 2 to 5 of your menstrual period, you should use a barrier method of contraception (e.g. condoms) until you have taken the white active tablets for 7 consecutive days.6
  • You can expect your menstrual period on day 2 to 3 after you have taken the last white tablet and it may continue after the next pack is started.1,6
  • Your next pack must be started immediately after finishing the previous pack, even if your period has not finished.6
  • Continue to take ZOELY® without any breaks irrespective of whether or not you have your menstrual period.1

How to switch from your previous contraceptive method to Zoely®

Switching from another birth control pill containing oestrogen and progestogen
Switch

Start ZOELY® the day after your last active tablet (of your previous oral contraceptive).6

Switch
Switching from a vaginal ring
or transdermal patch
Switch
Switching from a vaginal ring or transdermal patch

Start ZOELY® on the day it is removed.6

Switching from a progestogen-only method such as a minipill, implant, injectable or a hormone-medicated intrauterine device (IUD):6
Switch
  • You may switch any day from the minipill and start ZOELY® the next day at the same time.
  • Your implant or IUD may be removed any day and ZOELY® should be started on the day of its removal.
  • If you have been receiving the injection, ZOELY® should be started on the day when the next injection would have been due.

You are advised to use a barrier method of contraception such as a condom until you have taken the white active tablets for 7 consecutive days.6

!
You are advised to use a barrier method of contraception
such as a condom until you have taken the white active tablets
for 7 consecutive days.6
If you have been using your previous contraceptive method consistently and correctly and you do not suspect you are pregnant, you may start ZOELY® immediately.6
“If you are not sure about how to make the switch
to Zoely® speak to your healthcare provider.”

Zoely® and My Period

You can expect shorter, lighter periods while taking ZOELY®, on average lasting 3 to 4 days.7

2-3 out of 10 women may miss their period while taking ZOELY®.7

This is normal when taking ZOELY® and no reason for concern if you have not skipped any pills.7

Will menstrual blood build up in my uterus if I miss a period?

No. Menstrual blood or the lining of the uterus do not build up if you do not have a withdrawal bleed while taking ZOELY®.8

Uterus
The hormones in birth control pills cause the
lining of the uterus to thin.8

Is it harmful if I do not have my period while taking Zoely®?

No, missing a period while taking a birth control pill is not harmful to your health.8

Uterus
In fact, it is not medically necessary to have a monthly period if a woman is taking a birth control pill such as ZOELY®.8

Many women would prefer to reduce scheduled withdrawal bleeds if given the choice. Less frequent scheduled withdrawal bleeds may be an advantage to women who suffer from painful menstrual periods. It may also interfere less with sporting activities and may result in less menstrual-related absence from work. Having fewer periods may also reduce the cost and inconvenience associated with feminine hygiene products.8

NATURALLY
CONSIDERATE7

Naturally Considerate

NATURALLY CONSIDERATE7

The advantages of a naturally balanced pill like Zoely®

ZOELY® improves period-related
symptoms such as:10
ring
ZOELY® improves menstrual-cycle related symptoms such as:3
  • Headache
  • Breast pain/tenderness
  • Abdominal swelling and fluid retention
  • Feeling down
ZOELY® respects your body:2,7
Scales
  • ZOELY® is naturally balanced.2
  • ZOELY® has a neutral effect on your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels.2,4,7
Overall, ZOELY® has a neutral effect on factors that can increase your risk of heart disease.2
femme

Frequently Asked Questions

Access frequently asked questions and answers about ZOELY® in this section.

KG
ZOELY® will not affect your weight any more than women who don’t use birth control pills.7
KG
ZOELY® will not affect your weight any more than women who don’t use birth control pills.7
  • One study in women up to 50 years of age showed similar weight results for women on ZOELY® and women not on the pill.7
0.6 – 0.8 kg Increase in weight over 6 to 9 months among women using other birth control pills. Increase in weight over 1 year among women taking ZOELY

*18-35 years of age, average gain
#18-50 years of age, increase in mean body weight, number of ZOELY® users in this trial was 1 591 women

  • In another study in women younger than 25 years of age, most women reported no change in their weight after taking ZOELY® for 12 months.9
Weight gain - 23.8%, No weight gain - 55.2%, Weight loss - 20.4%

The number of ZOELY® users in this trial was 2 963 women.

acne
ZOELY® does not cause acne.7
Most women with acne showed no signs of worsening (of their acne) whilst taking ZOELY®.7
acne
ZOELY® does not cause acne.7
Most women with acne showed no signs of worsening (of their acne) whilst taking ZOELY®.7
Zoely® does not affect your sexual desire.10
ZOELY® has you covered.2,3
I’ve missed an active white tablet. What do I do?
Switch
SCHEDULE IF YOU ARE 24 HOURS OR MORE LATE TAKING WHITE PILLS6
What if you cannot remember?
?

If you are not sure about the number or colour of tablets you missed, take extra precaution and use a barrier method until you have completed 7 consecutive days of taking the white active tablets.1

You can expect shorter, lighter periods while taking ZOELY®, on average lasting 3 to 4 days.7

2-3 out of 10 women may miss their period while taking ZOELY®.7
Click here to find out more.
Want to go on holiday without the hassle of your period?
To delay your period:1
Holiday
Skip the yello tablets and start with the white tablets of the next pack 1
Spotting
You may possibly experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting1
Spotting
You may possibly experience breakthrough bleeding or spotting1
  • Once you have taken the yellow tablets of the second pack, continue taking ZOELY® as you would usually do.1
  • To shift your periods to start on another day of the week, you can shorten the number of yellow tablets you take (up to a maximum of 4 days).1
  • The shorter the interval, the higher the risk that you will not have a menstrual period and may experience breakthrough bleeding and spotting during the subsequent pack.1
Clinical trials with ZOELY® have shown that you may occasionally miss your regular monthly period after Day 24.6
Trial
  • If you have taken all the tablets correctly, and you have not vomited or had severe diarrhoea, or used other medicines, then it is very unlikely that you are pregnant. Keep taking ZOELY® as usual.6
  • If you have not taken all the tablets correctly, or if your expected period does not happen twice in a row, you may be pregnant. Contact your doctor immediately. Do not start the next blister of ZOELY® until your doctor has checked that you are not pregnant.6
See your doctor

Some factors may prevent ZOELY® from working as effectively as it should, which may put you at risk of falling pregnant.

Having an upset stomach6
Upset stomach
  • ZOELY® may not work effectively if you have diarrhoea or you are vomiting. You will need additional protection during intercourse such as using a condom.6
  • If you vomit 3 to 4 hours after taking a white tablet from your ZOELY® pack, that tablet should be regarded as missed and a new pill should be taken as soon as possible. The new pill should be taken within 24 hours of the usual time of tablet-taking if possible. You should then take the next pill at the usual time.6
  • If 24 hours or more have passed since you had taken your last pill, then please follow the steps in the ‘missed pill’ section.6 Click here.

Some factors may prevent ZOELY® from working as effectively as it should, which may put you at risk of falling pregnant.

Some medicines may stop ZOELY® from working properly6
Meds
  • Always tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medicine. This includes complementary or traditional medicines, and herbal products such as St. John’s Wort.6
  • Some medicines may stop ZOELY® from working properly. These include medicines used to treat:6
    • Epilepsy
    • HIV infections
    • Hepatitis C infection
    • Tuberculosis
    • Fungal infections
Please refer to the ZOELY® Patient Information Leaflet for examples of these medicines. When taking any of the above medicines you need to take extra contraceptive precautions during intercourse such as using a condom.
Speak to your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medication or need to take other medication while taking ZOELY®. They can tell you if you need to take additional contraceptive precautions (such as using condoms), and if so, for how long.6

You may experience some of the following side effects especially in the first 3 months of starting ZOELY®.1,4

  • Headaches
  • Pelvic pain
  • Breast pain
  • Painful periods
  • Abnormal withdrawal bleeding
These side effects usually don’t result in women discontinuing ZOELY®4
Schedule
Pharamacy
Speak to your doctor, pharmacy, or clinic nurse if you are concerned about any side effects.
Pharamacy
Speak to your doctor, pharmacy, or clinic nurse if you are concerned about any side effects.
Oral contraceptives, including ZOELY® do not protect against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. When unsure, use a condom for protection.1
Switch

What about the risk for blood clots?

Your doctor would have assessed your risk for the development of blood clots before prescribing ZOELY®. Women are more at risk of a blood clot forming during the first few months of using a contraceptive pill.2 Studies have shown that ZOELY® may have a more favourable risk profile than older birth control pills which do not contain natural oestrogen.2

script

Signs of a blood clot can include:1

  • Unusual pain in one leg and/or swelling
  • Sudden severe pain in the chest
  • Sudden breathlessness
  • Sudden onset of coughing
  • Any unusual, severe, prolonged headache
  • Sudden partial or complete loss of vision or double vision
  • Slurred speech
  • Vertigo
  • Collapse with or without seizure
  • Weakness or severe numbness suddenly affecting one side or one part of the body

Ready to start a family? Your fertility will return after you stop taking ZOELY®.4,11

8 out of 10 women
Almost 8 out of 10 women began ovulating again within one month after their last active tablet.4,11