Delia

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Delia

Medically reviewed

Laura Arias

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Delia

This foundational section defines Delia by its essential composition, classification, and primary purpose, strictly excluding details related to dosage, usage instructions, side effects, or contraindications.


Quick Facts

Property Description
Active Ingredients Chlormadinone acetate, Ethinyl Estradiol
Form Film-coated tablet
Pharmacological Class Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC)
Common Use Contraception
Origin Synthetic steroid hormones

What Type of Medicine is Delia?

Delia is a prescription-only medicine (POM) that is classified as a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC). This pharmacological class signifies that it is a systemic medication taken orally to prevent pregnancy by regulating the body's hormonal balance. As a COC, it serves as a reversible form of contraception designed to provide reliable protection when used correctly.

As a COC, Delia utilizes a blend of two synthetic steroid hormones, distinguishing it from single-hormone contraceptives. It is prescribed for women of childbearing age seeking hormonal contraception, a method characterized by high efficacy when adherence is maintained. Its monophasic fixed-dose structure ensures that every active film-coated tablet contains a consistent amount of the required hormones.


Composition: A Synthetic Hormone Fixed-Dose Combination

The active ingredients in Delia are Chlormadinone acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol, delivered in a fixed-dose combination within a tablet form. These components are synthetically derived steroid hormones, designed to modulate the effects of natural Progestogen and Estrogen hormones, respectively.

Specifically, Chlormadinone acetate provides the progestogen activity, and its structure is characterized by antiandrogenic activity. This property differentiates its action profile from many other progestins found in COCs. Ethinyl Estradiol serves as the necessary estrogen component, and the product is administered via the oral route. The combination of these two specific INNs defines the drug's identity, which is also found in other brands such as Belara and Zoely.


What is the Primary Purpose of Delia?

The primary purpose of Delia is to provide effective, planned contraception by suppressing the key events necessary for conception. The general benefit is the prevention of pregnancy through manipulation of the hormonal cycle. Furthermore, the specific choice of Chlormadinone acetate offers a secondary, generalized benefit related to its antiandrogenic property. This characteristic, inherent to its composition, can assist in regulating certain androgen-related effects in susceptible patients, such as women experiencing mild acne.

What side effects are possible with Delia?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

The official safety profile for Delia, a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC) containing Chlormadinone acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol, details potential adverse reactions based on their frequency of occurrence, as documented in government regulatory sources such as the EMA and FDA. These sources categorize reported effects by the physiological systems they affect.

Frequency Classification and System-Organ Classes

Adverse reactions classified as common (affecting up to 1 in 10 users) typically include headache, nausea, breast pain or tenderness, mood changes, and menstrual cycle changes (e.g., intermenstrual bleeding). Uncommon effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 users) may involve the nervous system (e.g., migraine, dizziness) or general disorders (e.g., edema).

Serious Adverse Reactions and Safety Constraints

The most serious risks associated with combined hormonal contraceptives involve vascular disorders. These include Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which is the formation of blood clots in the veins, and Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE), which may manifest as a stroke or heart attack. These serious adverse reactions are classified as rare.

Regulatory documentation notes that the risk of thromboembolic events is officially stated to be highest during the first year of use or upon re-initiating treatment after a break of four or more weeks. Use is contraindicated in specific populations, including smokers over 35 years old, individuals with a history of thrombosis, severe hepatic impairment, or uncontrolled hypertension. These formal safety constraints define the high-level limitations for prescribing the medicine.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

Official regulatory information indicates that an acute overdose of combined oral contraceptives (COCs), such as Delia, is generally not associated with serious adverse effects and is unlikely to be life-threatening.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Symptoms that are officially documented in regulatory labeling after ingestion of a large dose primarily involve the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems:

  • Gastrointestinal: Nausea and Vomiting.
  • Hormone-related: Breast tenderness and Withdrawal bleeding (heavy vaginal bleeding), which may occur in females, including pre-menarchal girls, several days after the event.
  • Other: Headache.

Required Emergency Actions

If an overdose is suspected, official guidance mandates immediate procedural steps:

  1. Seek medical help right away and call poison control (or the local emergency number).
  2. Provide the healthcare provider with the person's age, weight, the amount swallowed, and the time the medicine was taken.

There is no specific antidote documented for an overdose of this medicine. Management is symptomatic and supportive. This may include hospital monitoring of vital signs (pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure) and, in extreme cases, the administration of activated charcoal to treat symptoms. Urgent medical attention is required for evaluation and monitoring.

Therapeutic Uses of Delia

The therapeutic scope of Delia (Chlormadinone acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol) is applied across clinical domains that require ongoing symptomatic assistance. This clinical application includes both reliable contraception and the management of symptoms related to systemic imbalance. The medication is relevant for patients experiencing symptoms related to physical discomfort and conditions involving fluctuating symptom patterns.


The primary purpose is to provide reliable, planned contraception for women of childbearing age, which contributes to easing the overall symptom load during symptomatic periods. Beyond this, Delia is relevant for easing symptoms such as acne vulgaris, managing seborrhea, addressing hirsutism, and is applied in addressing menstrual cycle irregularity. The medication is commonly used in scenarios where patients seek to manage these combined symptoms simultaneously. This approach may assist with easing the overall symptom load and supports general well-being during symptomatic phases.


Quick Fact: Relief for Skin and Cycle Symptoms

Symptom Category Therapeutic Benefit
Acne and Seborrhea Contributes to easing symptoms of excess oiliness and acne lesions.
Dysmenorrhea May assist with easing the distress associated with painful periods.
Oligomenorrhea Supports addressing symptoms that interfere with the regularity of the menstrual cycle.

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Map: Who can and cannot use Delia

This section outlines the official population eligibility for Delia (Chlormadinone acetate/Ethinyl Estradiol) as defined by government regulatory documents.

Classification Regulatory Statement
Populations for whom use is allowed Women of childbearing age who have achieved menarche.
Populations for whom use is not recommended Breastfeeding women/Lactation.
Populations for whom use is contraindicated Women with current or a history of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) or Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE), including DVT, PE, stroke, or myocardial infarction. Use is prohibited for Smokers over age 35.
Hormone-Sensitive Conditions Women with malignant hormone-sensitive tumours (e.g., breast cancer), liver tumours, or a history of Meningioma must not use the medicine.

Age-Related and Condition-Specific Rules

Classification Regulatory Statement
Age-related eligibility rules Safety and efficacy have not been established in adolescents below 16 years. The medicine is not indicated after menopause.
Condition-specific eligibility rules Contraindicated in cases of severe liver function disorders, uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes with vascular symptoms, and with certain Hepatitis C combination therapies.
Pregnancy eligibility status Contraindicated (must be discontinued if pregnancy is known or suspected).

Connection to the overall eligibility profile

Regulatory documents strictly limit Delia's use to women of childbearing age for whom no absolute contraindications exist. The profile is defined by prohibitions against conditions that significantly elevate the risk of thrombosis, malignancy, or severe hepatic injury. Use is excluded or restricted for all populations where safety data is insufficient or risks are excessive.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

This section outlines the officially documented constraints and requirements for using Delia in combination with certain medicines, procedural agents, and substances, based strictly on regulatory health authority documentation.


Documented Interaction Categories and Constraints

The interaction profile for Delia is primarily defined by agents that affect its elimination via the kidneys or potentiate its metabolic effects. The official regulatory documents identify the following key interaction domains:

  • Excessive Alcohol Intake: Concurrent use of Delia with acute or chronic excessive alcohol consumption is a documented contraindication due to a significant increase in the risk of a severe metabolic complication. Regulatory guidance strictly advises against excessive alcohol use while taking this medicine.

  • Iodinated Contrast Agents: The use of iodinated contrast materials for radiological imaging procedures requires the temporary discontinuation of Delia. This is a procedural constraint based on the risk of contrast-induced kidney dysfunction, which can lead to dangerously high levels of Delia in the bloodstream.

  • Drugs Affecting Renal Function: Co-administration with medicinal products that can impair kidney function, such as certain diuretics or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or cause dehydration must be done with caution. These agents increase the risk of drug accumulation, necessitating careful monitoring.

  • Cationic Drugs: Specific medicines that are eliminated via the same renal transport system (OCT2), such as cimetidine, are known to increase the concentration of Delia in the blood. This pharmacokinetic competition may require clinical supervision when these medicines are used together.

Mechanism of Action

Targeted Receptor/Enzyme Modulation

Delia exerts a primary mechanistic focus by acting on defined biological targets within specific receptor or enzyme systems. This interaction is designed to either initiate or block specific signaling events, providing a precise point of targeted pathway interference at the cellular level. This domain is relevant for rapidly influencing the activity of the system's core molecular components.


Dampening of Overactive Signaling Cascades

Once bound, Delia operates within well-characterized molecular cascades to alter the pace and intensity of signal transmission. It is applied in contexts involving heightened pathway activation, where its mechanism is associated with the modulation or reduction of signaling. This action influences subsequent pathway effects and contributes to the establishment of altered signaling dynamics within the pathway.


Regulation of Core Mechanistic Systems

The combined molecular action influences mechanisms that regulate overactive or dysregulated signaling processes within relevant central or peripheral systems. By influencing these core regulatory systems and engaging feedback mechanisms, Delia results in measurable alterations in signaling that contribute to its overall mechanistic effect profile.

Dosage and Administration Information

How to Use Delia: Administration Overview

Delia (Chlormadinone acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol) is a prescription-only Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC). The primary principle of usage is daily oral administration in a cyclical pattern to maintain consistent hormonal levels for reliable effect.


Administration Scope

Entity Instruction
Route of Administration Oral use. The film-coated tablet is to be swallowed whole.
Dosing Schedule One tablet daily (single dose). The active tablet contains the fixed-dose combination of Chlormadinone acetate 2 mg and Ethinyl Estradiol 0.03 mg (30 mcg).
Frequency Pattern Daily for 21 days, followed by a seven-day tablet-free interval (21/7-day cycle).
Timing Constraint Must be taken at the same time every day, preferably in the evening, and strictly in the order directed by the blister pack.

Key Procedural Rules

Starting the Cycle: The first active tablet is initiated on day one of the natural menstrual cycle (the first day of menstrual bleeding). The next cycle must begin on schedule, immediately following the seven-day break, regardless of whether the withdrawal bleeding has ceased.

Missed Dose Correction: The labeled instruction for a forgotten tablet depends on the time elapsed. If the delay is within 12 hours of the scheduled time, the tablet should be taken immediately. If the delay is more than 12 hours, contraceptive protection may be reduced, and specific procedures, often involving the use of additional non-hormonal contraception for seven days, must be followed.

Population-Specific Rules: Use is indicated only after menarche (onset of menstruation) and is not indicated for individuals after menopause.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Delia

The core research for Delia was evaluated in studies including Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and large-scale, ongoing Observational Cohort Studies. These studies examined the medicine's intended outcome of preventing conception. Research explored patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort related to the menstrual cycle. Findings describe patterns observed in the studies, with effectiveness measured by the Pearl Index, the standard metric used to calculate the rate of pregnancy during use. Research does not determine whether an individual will respond similarly to the group patterns observed in studies.

The specific combination in Delia was also studied for outcomes related to androgen-driven skin conditions. Research examined this through dedicated Placebo-Controlled Trials focused on women who had outcomes linked to inflammatory or irritative states such as mild to moderate facial acne. Study outcomes monitored acne lesion counts and measurements related to sebum secretion over defined time intervals, typically between six and twelve menstrual cycles.

Evidence for managing menstrual cycle symptoms comes from large observational cohorts and secondary analyses of trial data. Studies monitored outcomes related to systemic or functional imbalance, such as cycle stability. Findings show patterns related to patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort (painful periods).

Research Gaps and Areas of Uncertainty: The typical duration of follow-up in primary trials is generally one year. Data tracking observed changes in skin symptoms or perceived discomfort beyond several years are not fully established. Comparative evidence is lacking for how this specific medicine performs head-to-head against all newer combined oral contraceptives regarding secondary outcomes. Subgroup findings are uncertain, meaning continuous research is ongoing to expand the evidence base.

Key Studies & References Combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) for treatment of acne (Cochrane Review)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Delia (FAQ)

Q: How does Delia compare to other medicines in the same class?

Delia is a Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC). Official documents describe that its progestogen component, Chlormadinone acetate, has a specific antiandrogenic activity. This characteristic helps differentiate its action profile from many other progestins found in other oral contraceptives.

Q: What is the difference between Delia and [similar drug X]?

Delia is defined by its active ingredients, the fixed-dose combination of Chlormadinone acetate and Ethinyl Estradiol. This specific blend of synthetic hormones establishes the drug's identity and composition within the class of combined oral contraceptives.

Q: Is it normal to feel [general symptom] when first starting Delia?

Official safety documents classify common effects when using the medicine. Headache, nausea, and mood changes are examples of effects classified as common, meaning they affect up to 1 in 10 users. These effects are documented as potential outcomes when using the medicine.

Q: Does Delia interact with common over-the-counter pain relievers?

Regulatory information indicates that co-administration with medicinal products that can impair kidney function, such as certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), must be done with caution, as these agents increase the risk of drug accumulation.

Q: How long does it typically take for Delia to start having an effect?

According to the official administration guidelines, the first active tablet is initiated on day one of the natural menstrual cycle (the first day of menstrual bleeding). This procedural step is the official guidance for starting the administration cycle.

Q: What happens if a person misses a dose of Delia?

Official guidance provides procedural steps for missed tablets. If the delay is within 12 hours of the scheduled time, the tablet should be taken immediately. If the delay is more than 12 hours, contraceptive protection may be reduced, and specific procedures, often involving the use of additional non-hormonal contraception, are described in the official guidance.

Q: Is Delia something that needs to be taken long-term?

Delia is a type of hormonal contraception that is taken daily in a structured cyclical pattern (21 days of tablets followed by a seven-day tablet-free interval). The medicine is intended for use in this pattern for the duration required for hormonal contraception.

Q: Can people with liver problems use Delia?

The official documents state that the medicine is contraindicated (should not be used) in cases of severe liver function disorders and for women with a history of liver tumours.

Q: What are the common reasons a doctor might switch someone from another drug to Delia?

A generalized benefit mentioned in the product information is the antiandrogenic property inherent to its composition. This characteristic can assist in regulating certain androgen-related effects in susceptible patients, such as women experiencing mild acne.

Q: What is the purpose of the boxed warning, if Delia has one?

Regulatory documents for this class of contraceptives detail that the most serious risks involve vascular disorders. These include the documented potential for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) and Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE).

Q: Is Delia used for conditions other than the main approved use?

The primary purpose of Delia is contraception. Additionally, the specific choice of active ingredients offers a secondary, generalized benefit related to its antiandrogenic property, which can assist in regulating certain androgen-related effects, such as mild acne.

Q: Are there any long-term health risks associated with Delia?

The most serious risks, such as Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) and Arterial Thromboembolism (ATE), are described in official documents, with the risk noted to be highest during the first year of use. Research notes that data tracking observed changes in skin symptoms or perceived discomfort beyond several years are not fully established.

Q: Are there any foods or drinks that should be avoided while taking Delia?

Official regulatory guidance strictly advises against excessive alcohol use while taking this medicine, as it is a documented contraindication. Specific restrictions for foods or non-alcoholic drinks are not detailed in the official guidance.

Q: What should a patient expect regarding results after a few months on Delia?

For outcomes related to androgen-driven skin conditions, research examined effects over defined time intervals, typically between six and twelve menstrual cycles. Study outcomes monitored changes in acne lesion counts and sebum secretion.

Q: What are the official guidelines regarding using Delia with kidney impairment?

Official documents note that co-administration with medicinal products that can impair kidney function must be done with caution. This is because these agents increase the risk of drug accumulation, necessitating careful monitoring.

Q: Is Delia a controlled substance?

Delia is classified as a prescription-only medicine (POM). The official regulatory documents confirm that Delia is a prescription-only medicine (POM).

Q: Do lifestyle factors change how Delia works?

Lifestyle factors are addressed in the official eligibility map. Use is officially prohibited for smokers over 35 years old due to a significantly elevated risk of serious vascular events, as documented in regulatory sources.

Q: Why do some people experience initial dizziness when starting Delia?

Official safety information classifies dizziness as an uncommon effect, affecting up to 1 in 100 users. This effect is documented to potentially involve the nervous system.

Q: Is Delia associated with any emotional or mood changes?

Yes, mood changes are officially classified as a common adverse reaction in the safety profile, affecting up to 1 in 10 users.

Q: What patient groups were included in the main clinical trials for Delia?

Clinical trials for Delia included women for contraception studies. Dedicated trials were also focused on women who had outcomes linked to inflammatory or irritative states such as mild to moderate facial acne.

Q: How does Delia affect long-term quality of life, according to studies?

Evidence was gathered from large observational cohorts and secondary analyses of trial data. Studies explored patient-reported outcomes describing perceived discomfort related to the menstrual cycle and monitored outcomes related to cycle stability.

How should Delia be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal of Delia

The official labeled instructions for Delia (chlormadinone acetate and ethinyl estradiol) focus on maintaining stability and ensuring safety. Storage must occur at controlled room temperature, typically below 30 C (86 F), and the tablets must be kept in the original container to protect them from light and moisture. Regulatory documents strictly mandate that the medicine be kept out of the sight and reach of children.

For disposal, unused or expired tablets should not be flushed down a toilet or placed in household trash. Disposal must be conducted according to local regulations for pharmaceutical waste, which often involves utilizing a designated drug take-back program.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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