MINI PILLS

If you’re not already taking the pill or using another form of hormonal contraception, you can start taking the progestin only pill at any point during your cycle. Or you can wait until you have your period. 

When you’re ready to start using progestin only birth control, pick a convenient time to take it because you’ll have to take it at this time every day. 

If you do wait for your period, and you start it within the first five days of your period, you’ll be protected from becoming pregnant right away. So you don’t need to worry about using the diaphragm or condoms.

You might need to use another method of birth control if you have a shorter period. Use condoms or the diaphragm until you’ve used the pill for two days. 

You won’t be protected against pregnancy right away if you start taking it at any other point during your cycle. So if you’re not on your period and start taking the progestin only pill, make sure you use extra protection like a condom for the first seven days you take it.

When you switch from the combined pill or another type of progestin only pill, you can take your first one the day after you finish the last pill in your previous pack.

If you’re changing from the skin patch or the vaginal ring, start on the day after your patch or ring is removed. If you do this, you won’t need to use extra protection.

One of the biggest advantages of the mini pill is that it is safer to use for some women than the combined pill, because it doesn’t contain any oestrogen.^[1] Women who have a higher risk of blood clots due to factors like high blood pressure or being overweight, get migraines, or who are breastfeeding, are more likely to be recommended the mini pill.

The main disadvantage is that some progestin only pills have a shorter missed pill window at three hours (compared to 12 hours for most combined pills).

The short answer is yes in most cases, although it does not stop bleeding. You may experience spotting while taking the mini pill, but this is not strictly speaking menstrual bleeding. Some women may experience heavy bleeding on the mini pill. If this happens to you, you should consult with your doctor.

Very effective, when used correctly. There are two methods used to measure effectiveness: perfect use and typical use.

Perfect use is taking the pill exactly as stated in the instructions, without making any mistakes. Effectiveness associated with this method is over 99%, meaning that in 100 women taking the pill over a year, less than one will get pregnant.^[2]

Typical use is taking the pill correctly for the most part, but making occasional mistakes (missing a pill, or taking it late). Effectiveness for this method is thought to be around 91%, meaning that around nine in 100 women using the progestin only pill will get pregnant over one year.

Just like with any other form of birth control, you might notice some side effects but they should be easy to manage. Some side effects are really common and should go away on their own after a couple of months, once your body has gotten used to the mini pill. 

The most common side effects noted include:

• tender breasts
• acne
• irregular bleeding
• changes to your mood and sex drive
• headaches
• nausea and vomiting
• cysts on your ovaries (they should be harmless and won’t need treatment)

If you get side effects that bother you and don’t go away, you should speak to the doctor about switching pills.

You should be aware of the more serious side effects of using the progestin only pill. These side effects are rare, but it’s good to know what the symptoms are in case you do need to seek medical help.

Stop using the progestin only pill and see a doctor if you experience:

• signs of a blood clot (throbbing or cramping pain, feeling breathless suddenly, coughing up blood);
• signs of a heart attack (cold sweat, fatigue, chest pain);
• signs of a stroke (a sudden weakness on one side of your body, difficulty seeing out of one or both of your eyes, sudden confusion). 

Yes. A lot of the birth control options you know will probably be branded versions. You might know their names, their active ingredients and you might know what to expect when you start using them.

When there isn’t a definitive single brand of a certain medication, and there are several versions available, these are called generics.

There are several brands of progestin only pill available. Some might have different names, but be exactly the same pill in the same concentration. For example, Cerazette and Cerelle are clinically the same, but just come in different packaging because they’re made by different companies. But there shouldn’t be any difference in how well they work.

The progestin only pill can interfere with other medications, impacting its effectiveness. That’s why it’s critical to let our prescriber know if you’re currently taking any medications.

Progestin only pills that contain norethisterone are known to interfere with:

• St John’s Wort;
• HIV medication;
• Griseofulvin (used to treat fungal infections);
• Modafinil (treats sleeping disorders);
• treatment for seizures;
• antibiotics

Subscribing to an EveAdam package to get your progestin only pill delivered regularly is super simple. It starts with the online consultation, where you can answer a few questions from our UK clinician and tell them a little about your health. You’ll then get pill suggestions from the doctor, and you can choose which one you prefer, and how often you want to receive it.

Your prescription will then be created and pinged over to our UK pharmacy. From there, your pill will be dispensed and shipped to you in discreet, secure packaging, and you should receive your first order in one working day. Then, you’ll receive your next delivery at the time you’ve set, so you don’t need to worry about running out of the pill again.