What is a progestin-only contraceptive ?
A progestin-only contraceptive is one kind of birth control pill. It is
often called the "mini-pill." Regular birth control pills have 2 female
hormones: estrogen and progestin (a synthetic version of the
naturally-occurring hormone progesterone). The mini-pill has only
progestin in it. Because this pill doesn't contain estrogen, it may not
have as many side effects.
How does the progestin-only contraceptive work ?
This contraceptive does three things. First, like regular birth control
pills, the progestin-only pill makes your body "think" that you are
pregnant and stops your ovary from releasing an egg. Second, the mini-pill
causes changes in your uterus (where a baby grows) that makes your uterus
less likely to let a pregnancy get started even if an egg is released. And
third, the progestin-only pill thickens the mucus between your uterus and
your vagina. (The vagina is the passageway from the uterus to the outside
of the body.) Sperm have a hard time getting through the thick mucus to
reach the egg.
Is the progestin-only pill better than regular birth control pills ?
The progestin-only pill is better than regular birth control pills if you
are breastfeeding because the mini-pill will not change your milk
production (estrogen reduces the quality and amount of breast milk).
The mini-pill may be safer for some women to use than regular birth
control pills. This pill is safer for women who are older than 35. It is
also safer for women who smoke, have high blood pressure, are overweight
or have a history of blood clots.
Regular birth control pills make some women feel sick to their stomach or
have severe headaches. The progestin-only pill might not cause this
problem.
If I use the progestin-only pill, can I still get pregnant ?
No contraceptive method is perfect, even when you use it correctly. Two or
three of every 100 women who use the progestin-only pill correctly could
still get pregnant. This risk of pregnancy is almost the same as the risk
with regular birth control pills. Remember that both kinds of birth
control pills are better at preventing pregnancy than
condoms alone.
Does the progestin-only pill have any disadvantages ?
You might have a little bleeding between your periods for several months
after you start taking the progestin-only pill. This can be inconvenient,
but it is not a health risk. The bleeding will probably go away on its own
after you use the mini-pill for a few months. If the bleeding seems heavy
or if it bothers you, you can talk to your doctor about it.
A common side effect of the mini-pill is feeling hungry more often, which
may result in weight gain. This side effect usually goes away when you
stop taking the pill. Tender breasts can also occur.
Like regular birth control pills, the progestin-only pill has to be taken
for a whole month before it can protect you from pregnancy. So for the
first month, you need to use another kind of contraception, such as
condoms, along with the mini-pill.
The mini-pill works best if you take it every day at the same time of day.
Timing is much more important for the progestin-only pill than in regular
birth control pills. If you are more than three hours late taking the
progestin-only pill, you should take your missed dose right away and use a
backup method of contraception (such as a condom) for 48 hours.
If you miss a day completely, you have to use a second method of
contraception for the rest of the month (until your next period). You
can't take two mini-pills the next day to make up for a missed pill, the
way you can with regular birth control pills.
Like all birth control pills, the progestin-only pill does not protect you
from getting a sexually transmitted disease.
