Birth Control Hormones: The Mini-Pill

Overview

What are mini-pills for birth control?

Mini-pills are used to prevent pregnancy. They release a regular dose of a hormone called progestin. They are different from regular combination birth control pills. Those contain progestin and another hormone called estrogen.

Progestin prevents pregnancy in a few ways. It thickens the mucus in the cervix. This makes it hard for sperm to travel into the uterus. It also thins the lining of the uterus. This makes it harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. And progestin can sometimes stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation).

Mini-pills come in packs. One type has 28 pills that contain progestin in each pack. You have to take a pill every day at the same time to prevent pregnancy. Another type comes with 24 progestin pills and four inactive pills (that do not contain progestin).

Be sure to tell your doctor about any health problems you have or medicines you take. Your doctor can help you choose the birth control method that is right for you.

How well do mini-pills work?

In the first year of use:

• When mini-pills are taken exactly as directed, they are more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means that fewer than 1 out of 100 people will have an unplanned pregnancy.
• When mini-pills are not taken exactly as directed, such as when they are sometimes missed, they are 93% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means that 7 out of 100 people will have an unplanned pregnancy.

What should you think about when using mini-pills?

Some pros of using the mini-pill

• Mini-pills work better than barrier methods. Barrier methods include condoms and diaphragms.
• They may cause fewer side effects than combination birth control pills. They may reduce heavy bleeding and cramping.
• They don't contain estrogen. So you can use them if you don't want to take estrogen. They are also an option if you can't take estrogen because you have certain health problems or concerns.
• They are safe to use while breastfeeding.
• You don't have to interrupt sex to use them.

Some cons of using the mini-pill

• Mini-pills don't protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as herpes or HIV/AIDS. You can use a condom to reduce your risk of getting an STI.
• They may cause changes in your periods. You may have spotting between periods. You may also stop getting a period.
• Mini-pills may cause mood changes or less interest in sex.
• You have to take a pill at the same time every day to prevent pregnancy.