Women's health
Contraceptive pill, patch or ring
Repeat or switch of a combined pill, mini-pill, patch or vaginal ring. Reviewed by an Irish-registered GP for €25, usually the same day.
All smart prescriptions
What we'll ask you
33 short questions, most of them yes or no. Your answers go straight to the reviewing GP.
- What do you need today?
- Which method are you asking for?
- Brand you are on now (or would like), if you know it
- Your age in years
- Height in cm
- Weight in kg
- Blood pressure — top number (systolic)
- Blood pressure — bottom number (diastolic)
- When was that blood pressure taken?
- Are you treated for high blood pressure?
- Do you smoke (including vaping nicotine)?
- Do you get migraine headaches?
- Have you ever had a blood clot (DVT or pulmonary embolism)?
- Have you been told you have a clotting disorder (thrombophilia, Factor V Leiden)?
- Has a parent, brother or sister had a blood clot before the age of 45?
- Are you currently being treated for breast cancer?
- Have you had breast cancer in the past?
- Any breast cancer or known BRCA gene in your close family?
- Any heart disease, stroke, TIA or known high cholesterol needing treatment?
- Do you have diabetes?
- Any liver disease, cirrhosis or a liver tumour?
- Do you have lupus (SLE) or antiphospholipid antibodies?
- Have you given birth in the last 6 months?
- Are you breastfeeding?
- Is there any chance you are pregnant right now?
- Major surgery with long immobility, or a limb in a cast, in the last 3 months?
- Have you had weight-loss (bariatric) surgery?
- Do you take enzyme-inducing medicines (carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampicin, St John's wort, some HIV medicines)?
- Any unexplained vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after sex?
- Any symptoms or problems with your current method (or type 'none')
- Do you have any of: high fever, severe pain, breathlessness, confusion, or symptoms getting rapidly worse?
- List any drug allergies (or type 'none')
- Medicines you currently take (or type 'none')
When we'll say no
These answers stop the request and route you to a consultation instead.
- Personal history of VTE — UKMEC 4 for combined hormonal contraception.
- Known thrombophilia — UKMEC 4 for combined hormonal contraception.
- Current breast cancer — UKMEC 4 for all hormonal contraception.
- Past breast cancer — UKMEC 3, needs a consultation.
- Arterial disease — UKMEC 4 for combined hormonal contraception.
- Significant liver disease — UKMEC 3 or 4 depending on severity.
- SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies — UKMEC 4.
- Possible pregnancy must be excluded before starting contraception.
- Immobility raises clot risk — UKMEC 3 or 4 for combined methods.
- Enzyme inducers reduce hormonal contraceptive effectiveness — needs review.
- Unexplained bleeding must be assessed before a prescription is issued.
- These symptoms need to be assessed by a doctor directly.
Start your contraceptive pill, patch or ring request
€25, reviewed by an Irish-registered GP. If it isn't clinically appropriate, the GP declines and you are refunded in full.