The progestogen-only pill

The progestogen-only pill is sometimes called the mini-pill or POP. Find out how it works and how it might affect your periods.

A woman can get pregnant if a man’s sperm reaches one of her eggs (ova). Contraception tries to stop this happening by keeping the egg and sperm apart or by stopping egg production. One method of contraception is the progestogen-only pill (POP).

It contains the hormone progestogen but doesn't contain oestrogen. The progestogen-only pill has to be taken every day within a specific three-hour time frame.

How does it work?

The POP thickens the mucus in the cervix, which stops sperm reaching an egg. It also thins the lining of the womb so that an egg can't implant itself there. In some women, it stops ovulation.

How effective is the progestogen-only pill?

If taken correctly, it can be 99% effective. This means that one woman in 100 who use the POP will get pregnant in one year.

Added benefits?

The POP can be used by women who can't use contraception that contains oestrogen, e.g. because of high blood pressure, previous blood clots or being overweight.
You can take the POP if you're over 35 and you smoke.

What else should I know?

You must take the progestogen-only pill at the same time each day: if you take it more than three hours late (or 12 hours late if you take Cerazette) it may not be effective.
If you’re sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea, the POP may not work.
Some medicines may affect the POP's effectiveness: ask your doctor for details.
Your periods may stop or become lighter, irregular or more frequent.
Side effects may include spotty skin and breast tenderness. These should clear up within a few months.

By using condoms as well as the POP, you'll help to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Further information

Find out about the 15 methods of contraception

What should I do if I miss a pill (POP)?

What if I'm on the pill and I'm sick or have diarrhoea?

Does the contraceptive pill interact with other medicines?

Where to get contraception

Find out where you can go for confidential access to the contraception that's right for you.

Last reviewed: 23/09/2011

Next review due: 23/09/2013

Comments

1 Comments about ‘The progestogen-only pill’

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primroset said on 10 March 2012

I've been through several different types of the pill - I can't use a combined because I get migraines with blindness, and the first POP gave me spotting three weeks out of four.

The pill I'm on now seems to be working fine. My periods are irregular (but they always were) but now they're much lighter with only one day of cramps at the beginning.

Side effects - loss of some sex drive, facial skin is more prone to dryness and breakouts, painful/impossible sex.

Benefits - considerably more stable moods, haven't had a full migraine for months...and I guess not having had a baby when I don't want one is a plus?!?

The biggest problem for me has been the painful sex. I've been with my boyfriend for well over a year, and as we've both been tested and are clean, this seemed like a better plan than condoms. Now I can't have sex because it hurts too much, and that was the only reason I started on the pill!

Has anyone had the same experience? How did you move past it? The sexual aspect of my relationship is important to me, and I feel like a failure every time we have to stop because of the pain.

Thankyou!