Progestogen-only Contraceptive Pill

How effective is the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

• Between 3-80 women in 1,000 using the POCP will become pregnant each year. (If no contraception is used, more than 800 in 1,000 sexually active women become pregnant within one year.) Correct use gives the lower figure (3 per 1,000) and includes taking the pill exactly according to instructions, at the same time every day. If it is not taken correctly, more women will become pregnant (80 per 1,000).

What are the advantages of the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

• Taking the POCP does not interfere with sex.
• You can take it when you are breast-feeding.
• It has a lower dose of hormone than the combined pill.
• The POCP does not give you a higher risk of blood clots (unlike the combined pill.) It can therefore be used by some women who cannot take the combined pill. For example, if you are aged over 35 and smoke, if you have migraines, or if you have high blood pressure.

What are the disadvantages of the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

• You have to remember to take the pill at exactly the same time every day. For older POCP brands, this means within three hours of the time you took it the day before; for POCPs containing desogestrel, within 12 hours.
• It can give you irregular periods. See the section below.
• It can give you some side-effects, although these are usually mild. See the section on side-effects.
• It cannot be taken with some kinds of other medication. See the section about other medication which interferes with the POCP.
• It may mean you are more likely to develop cysts in your ovaries. If this happens they are usually small and do not need any treatment.
• It may (like the combined pill) give you a very small increased risk of breast cancer.

What happens to your periods when you take the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

The effect on periods can vary. Some women taking the POCP continue to have regular normal periods. However, some have irregular periods, some have very infrequent periods, and some have no periods. Some women also have occasional 'spotting' between periods.

Changes in bleeding patterns when taking the POCP are common:

• 2 in 10 women have no bleeding.
• 4 in 10 women have regular bleeding.
• 4 in 10 women have irregular bleeding.

You should continue to take the POCP every day, including when you have periods. However, if you do develop irregular bleeding while taking the POCP, you should inform your doctor. Irregular bleeding can sometimes be due to another reason - for example, an infection, which may need to be treated.

Are there any side-effects with taking the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

Side-effects are very uncommon. If one or more do occur, they often settle down over a couple of months or so. Examples of possible side-effects include mood swings, headaches, feeling sick, increase in acne and breast discomfort.

Who cannot take the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

Most women can take the POCP. Your doctor or family planning nurse will discuss any current and past illnesses. You should not take the POCP if you have breast cancer, or have had it in the past. You also should not take it if you have very severe liver disease, or liver tumours. If you take certain medications you may not be able to take the POCP, especially if you are on medication for epilepsy. See the section on other medicines below.

How do I take the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

Start taking the pill on the first day of your next period. It is immediately effective from then on. It will also start to work straightaway if you begin taking it up to the fifth day from the start of your period. (ie if Day 1 is the first day of your period, you can begin taking it on Day 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and it will work straightaway.) If you start on any other day, you should use additional contraceptive methods (such as using condoms or not having sex) for the first two days. This is until the POCP has become effective.

If you have just had a baby, the POCP is immediately effective if you start taking it before day 21 after the birth. If you begin taking it after Day 21, use additional contraception (eg, condoms or not having sex) for two days.

You should take the POCP at the same time of day, every day. Any time of day will do, but the most important thing is to get into a routine. Do not stop taking it when you have a period. You should take it every day. When you finish one pack, start another the next day. If you take a pill more than three hours later than usual for the traditional pills, you lose protection (see below). If you are taking a newer pill containing desogestrel, you have a 12-hour window to take your pill. If you are more than 12 hours late, you will need to use extra protection.

What if I forget to take a pill?

If you forget to take a progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP), take it as soon as you remember. If you are more than three hours late in taking it (or more than 12 hours with a desogestrel POCP) then your protection immediately fails. Continue taking your pill each day, but you will need to use extra contraception (such as condoms) for two days until the POCP becomes effective again.

What if I am being sick (vomiting) or have diarrhoea?

• If you vomit within two hours of taking your progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP) or have severe diarrhoea, the pill will not be absorbed. Carry on taking the POCP as usual, but use other forms of contraception (such as condoms) for the duration of the illness plus for a further two days after the vomiting or diarrhoea has stopped.

Do other medicines interfere with the progestogen-only contraceptive pill (POCP)?

Some medicines may interfere with the POCP and make it less effective. Tell the doctor or pharmacist that you take the POCP if you are prescribed or buy another medicine. Medicines which interfere with the POCP include:

• Some medicines for epilepsy. For example carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, eslicarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, and topiramate. Some of these pills are used for other problems - eg, migraine or pain.
• The antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin. (Other antibiotics do not affect the POCP.)
• Some medicines used to treat HIV and AIDS. For example nevirapine and ritonavir.
• St John's wort. This is a treatment bought over-the-counter, and sometimes used for depression. Your doctor may not know you are on it, so you should mention it. The POCP may not work if you are taking St John's wort.
• Ulipristal acetate. This is a medicine which comes in two forms - as ellaOne® for emergency contraception, and Esmya® for fibroids. If you take the POCP after using ellaOne®, you should also use additional contraceptive precautions until your next period starts. If you take Esmya® you should not use the POCP. You should also not take it for 12 days after finishing it.

References:

http://patient.info/health/progestogen-only-contraceptive-pill-leaflet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progestogen-only_pill

https://www.ifpa.ie/Sexual-Health-Services/Contraception-Factsheets/Progestogen-Only-Pill

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/C/Contraceptive-pill,-progestogen-only/

http://www.womenshealthclinic.ie/progesterone-only-pill-minipill.html

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/pages/the-pill-progestogen-only.aspx

http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Progestin-Only-Hormonal-Birth-Control-Pill-and-Injection