The Pill and the mini-Pill

The pros and the cons of the Pill and the mini-Pill

How does it work?

The Pill, also called the Combined Pill, combines two female-type hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. These hormones stop you from ovulating (or producing an egg) each month. You can't get pregnant if you don't ovulate.

These hormones also make it harder for sperm to reach the egg by thickening the secretions around your cervix, and make your womb less receptive to an egg by thinning the lining of your womb.

The mini-Pill is different to the Combined Pill as it contains only one hormone - which is why it's sometimes known as the 'progestogen-only Pill.' The mini-Pill does not prevent ovulation, but works by thickening mucus in the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to travel through.

Is it effective?

Both the Pill and the mini-Pill are around 99% effective if taken correctly. As the mini-Pill contains only one hormone, it's 'milder' with fewer side-effects, but also slightly less effective.

If you are more than 24 hours late in taking the Pill, its effectiveness will have decreased and you will need to use another form of contraception. With the mini-Pill you will need to use another form of contraception if you are more three hours late with a pill.

How do I get it?

Get a prescription from your GP or Family Planning Clinic. Your doctor will consider your medical history and current state of health when prescribing. A follow up is usually done every six months to make sure you haven't developed any risk factors for the Pill's or the mini-Pill's side effects (see below). There are over twenty different contraceptive pills on the market, so make sure you discuss with your doctor which is the right one for you, as certain pills have different side effects (see below) and others are better for treating conditions like acne.

Why should I get it?

Other than convenience, the mini-Pill can make your periods lighter and it also has less negative side effects than the Pill. However, the Pill can
Abolish or diminsh period pain and decrease PMS symptoms, make periods shorter and lighter. Because of this, you will be less likely to be anaemic. It can also improve acne and can reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

Why shouldn't I take it?

The mini-Pill has fewer side effects than the Pill, but it can cause
spotting between periods, weight gain and breast tenderness.

During the first few packs of the Pill, many women get passing side effects. If they don't go away after a few months, you might want to consider switching to another brand of the Pill. These side effects include headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, slight weight gain, slight 'spotting' of blood between the periods, possible depression and a lower libid.

More serious side effects include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or clotting, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, cervical cancer and liver cancer.

Read the information leaflet on your brand of Pill for more information. Usually these side effects are very rare, but they are much more likely to happen if you have certain 'risk factors,' including being a smoker, being severely overweight, having high blood pressure, having high cholesterol, being diabetic (although non-smoking diabetics can use the Pill under careful supervision), having a family history of thrombosis or some similar illness like heart attack, having a history vein inflammation or thrombophlebitis or if you have been immobile for a while (such as after having surgery).

For further information visit www.fpa.org.uk

 

From sexual health to losing weight, our diet and wellbeing channel has it covered

 

HIV and me: one woman's story

 

Find the perfect diet for you with our good diet guide

Share this Print this