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THE PROGESTOGEN

-ONLY PILL

Other names: mini pill; POP

WHAT IS THE PROGESTOGEN ONLY PILL?

The progestogen only pill (POP), often called the mini pill, is a tablet containing a progestogen hormone to help prevent pregnancy.

The progestogen-only pill needs to be taken every day, at the same time each day, with no break between packs of pills.

pill

OVERVIEW

EFFICACY

EFFICACY

91%

FREQUENCY

FREQUENCY

DAILY

EFFECT-ON-FERTILITY

EFFECT ON FERTILITY

UPON DISCONTINUATION OF USE, FERTILITY SHOULD RETURN TO NORMAL

BLOOD-CLOT-RISK

BLOOD CLOT RISK

NOT KNOWN TO INCREASE RISK

HOW DOES THE PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL WORK?

The progestogen-only pill contains a progesterone hormone. When you take the pill, progestogen is released into the bloodstream and prevents pregnancy by:

Inhibiting sperm

Thickening the cervical mucus, which stops the sperm from reaching the egg.

Thickening-the-mucus

Some progestogen-only pills stop the ovaries from releasing eggs.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL AT PREVENTING PREGNANCY?

When taken perfectly, the POP is a very effective method of contraception. However, its ability to prevent pregnancy largely depends on the person using it properly. Forgetting to take the pill or having vomiting or diarrhoea can make the pill less effective.

 

The Progestogen-only pill is 91% effective with ‘typical use’ meaning that 9 out of 100 using this method for one year will become pregnant. With perfect use it is more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 people will get pregnant in a year when using the progestogen-only pill correctly.

PERFECT USE*

99
%
+

Effective

Approximately 

1 out of every 100 women
 in a year will experience an unintended pregnancy.

 

* Perfect use of a contraceptive method is when it is used correctly all the time.

TYPICAL USE*

91
%

Effective

Approximately 

9 out of every 100 women
 in a year will experience an unintended pregnancy.

 

* Typical use is what generally happens in real life. It takes into account human error e.g. forgetting to take your pill.

WHAT IS THE PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL MADE OF?

The progestogen only pill contains an artificial version of the female hormone progesterone, which is produced naturally in the ovaries. There are different progestogen-only pills available which have different types and doses of progestogen.

    DOES THE PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL CONTAIN HORMONE?expand_less

    Yes. The hormone in the mini pill - progestogen – is released throughout the body. Progestogen-only pills may contain one of the following progestogen hormones: desogestrel, drosperinone, levonorgestrel or norethisterone.

    The progestogen-only pill can be a suitable option for women who cannot take oestrogen. You can also take the progestogen-only pill if you're over 35 and you smoke. However, the progestogen only pill is not suitable for everyone. To find out whether the pill is right for you, talk to a GP, nurse or pharmacist.

    The mini pill may not be right for you if you:

    • Think you might be pregnant.
    • Do not want your periods to change.
    • Take other medication that may affect the pill.
    • Have unexplained bleeding in between periods or after sex.
    • Have arterial disease or heart disease or have had a stroke.
    • Have liver disease.
    • Have breast cancer or have had it in the past.
    • Have kidney problems or are at risk of high potassium levels (particularly relevant for drospirenone-containing pills).

PP-UN-WHC-GB-0299 July 2025