Started Progesterone Pills After My Period

The traditional progestogen-only pill (Popular) prevents pregnancy by thickening the fungus in the cervix to stop sperm reaching an egg.

The desogestrel progestogen-only pill can also stop ovulation.

The progestogen-only pill needs to be taken every solar day to work.

At a glance: facts about the progestogen-only pill

If taken correctly, it's more 99% effective. This means fewer than 1 in 100 who uses the progestogen-only pill as contraception volition get meaning in 1 yr.
With "typical use" of the progestogen-but pill (the style it's taken by a lot of women in real life), information technology's only about 91% constructive.
You take a pill every day, with no break between packs of pills.
The progestogen-but pill can be used if you cannot use contraception that contains oestrogen.
Y'all can take the progestogen-only pill if you're over 35 and you fume.
You must take the progestogen-simply pill at the same time each day. If y'all take it more than than 3 hours tardily (traditional progestogen-merely pill) – or 12 hours late (desogestrel pill) – it may not be constructive.
If you're sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea, the progestogen-simply pill may not work.
Some medicines may affect the progestogen-but pill's effectiveness – ask your doctor for details.
Your periods may terminate or become lighter, irregular or more than frequent.
Side effects may include spotty skin and chest tenderness – these should clear up within a few months.
You'll need to use condoms as well every bit the progestogen-just pill to be protected against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

How to have the progestogen-only pill

There are 2 different types of progestogen-only pill:

iii-60 minutes progestogen-just pill (traditional progestogen-only pill) – must be taken inside 3 hours of the same time each 24-hour interval
12-hour progestogen-just pill (desogestrel progestogen-only pill) – must be taken within 12 hours of the aforementioned time each twenty-four hours

Follow the instructions that come with your pill bundle – missing pills or taking the pill alongside other medicines tin reduce its effectiveness.

There are 28 pills in a pack of progestogen-just pills. Y'all need to accept 1 pill every solar day inside either 3 or 12 hours of the same time each twenty-four hour period, depending on which type yous're taking.

At that place'southward no break betwixt packs of pills – when you finish a pack, you kickoff the next one the next day.

Starting the get-go pack of pills

choose a user-friendly time in the mean solar day to take your first pill
go on to take a pill at the same time each solar day until the pack is finished
showtime your next pack of pills the following day – there'south no pause between packs of pills

You can start the progestogen-just pill at any time in your menstrual bike.

If yous kickoff it on day ane to five of your menstrual bike (the first five days of your menstruation), it'll work directly away and y'all'll exist protected against pregnancy. You will non need additional contraception.

If you take a brusk menstrual cycle, you lot'll demand additional contraception, such every bit condoms, until you've taken the pill for 2 days.

If yous get-go the progestogen-only pill on whatsoever other day of your cycle, you lot will not be protected from pregnancy direct abroad and will need additional contraception until you've taken the pill for ii days.

After having a baby

If you've just had a baby, you can kickoff the progestogen-merely pill on twenty-four hour period 21 afterward the nascency. You lot'll exist protected against pregnancy straight away.

If you start the progestogen-only pill more than 21 days later on giving birth, use boosted contraception such as condoms until y'all've taken the pill for 2 days.

Afterwards a miscarriage or abortion

If you've had a miscarriage or abortion, yous can start the progestogen-but pill up to 5 days afterwards and you lot'll be protected from pregnancy straight away.

If yous start the pill more 5 days after a miscarriage or abortion, employ boosted contraception until you've taken the pill for 2 days.

What to practise if you miss a pill

If yous forget to have a progestogen-but pill, what you should exercise depends on:

the blazon of pill you lot're taking
how long agone you missed the pill
how many pills you've forgotten to have
whether you've had sex without using some other type of contraception in the previous seven days

If you lot're less than 3 or less than 12 hours tardily taking the pill

If y'all're taking a 3-60 minutes progestogen-only pill and are less than iii hours late taking it, or if you're taking the 12-hour progestogen-only pill and are less than 12 hours late:

have the belatedly pill as before long as you lot recollect, and
take the remaining pills equally normal, even if that means taking 2 pills on the same twenty-four hours

The pill volition notwithstanding work, and you'll exist protected against pregnancy – you practise non need to use additional contraception.

Practice not worry if you've had sex without using another form of contraception. You practise not need emergency contraception.

If you're more than than 3 or more than 12 hours late taking the pill

If y'all're taking a 3-60 minutes progestogen-only pill and are more than three hours late taking information technology, or you lot're taking the 12-60 minutes progestogen-merely pill and are more than 12 hours tardily, yous volition not be protected confronting pregnancy.

What you lot should do:

take a pill as soon every bit y'all recall – just have 1, even if y'all've missed more than 1 pill
have the next pill at the usual fourth dimension – this may mean taking two pills on the aforementioned day (1 when you remember and ane at the usual time); this is not harmful
deport on taking your remaining pills each twenty-four hour period at the usual fourth dimension
use extra contraception such every bit condoms for the next 2 days (48 hours) afterward yous call up to take your missed pill, or practice not have sex
if you accept unprotected sex from the time that you miss your pill until 2 days after yous start taking it reliably again, you lot may need emergency contraception – get advice from your contraception clinic or GP
tell them that you've been taking the progestogen-only pill as this can touch on which emergency contraception is all-time for yous to take

Information technology takes 2 days for the progestogen-only pill to thicken cervical mucus so sperm cannot go through or survive.

The Faculty of Sexual Health and Reproductive Healthcare recommends using extra contraception for two days subsequently y'all call back to take your pill.

The patient information leaflet that comes with your pill might say to utilize condoms for the next seven days after you lot recall to take your pill. This is because it takes 7 days for the pill to stop y'all ovulating.

Sickness and diarrhoea

If y'all're sick (vomit) within 2 hours of taking a progestogen-only pill, it may not have been fully absorbed into your bloodstream. Have another pill direct abroad and the next pill at your usual time.

If yous practice not take another pill within 3 (or 12 hours) of your normal time, utilise boosted contraception, such as condoms, for 2 days (7 days for the 12-hour pill).

If you go on to be sick, continue using another form of contraception, such equally condoms, while y'all're sick and for 2 days later recovering.

Very astringent diarrhoea – 6 to 8 watery poos in 24 hours – may as well mean that the pill does not work properly.

Keep taking your pill equally normal, but use boosted contraception, such every bit condoms, while you have diarrhoea and for ii days after recovering, or 7 days if you're taking a 12-hour pill.

Speak to a chemist, nurse or GP, or call NHS 111 or the national sexual health helpline free on 0300 123 7123, if you're unsure whether you're protected against pregnancy, or if your sickness or diarrhoea continues.

Who tin utilize the progestogen-simply pill?

You should be able to use the progestogen-only pill, just you may not be able to if you:

think you might be pregnant
practice not want your periods to change
have other medicines that may impact the pill
have unexplained haemorrhage in between periods or after sexual practice
have adult arterial disease or heart disease or have had a stroke
have liver disease
accept breast cancer or have had it in the past
have severe cirrhosis or liver tumours

If you're salubrious and there are no medical reasons why you should not take the progestogen-only pill, you can have information technology until your menopause or until y'all're 55.

Breastfeeding

The progestogen-but pill is safe to utilize if you're breastfeeding. Small amounts of progestogen may pass into your breast milk, but this is not harmful to your infant. It does non touch on the style your breast milk is produced.

Pregnancy

Although information technology's very unlikely, there's a very small chance that you lot could go pregnant while taking the progestogen-but pill.

If this happens, there'due south no evidence that the pill will harm your unborn baby. If you call back you may exist meaning, speak to your GP or visit your local contraception dispensary.

Become medical advice if you lot accept a sudden or unusual pain in your tummy, or if your period is much shorter or lighter than usual.

It'south possible that these are alarm signs of an ectopic pregnancy, although this is rare.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

it does not interrupt sex
you tin can use information technology when breastfeeding
information technology's useful if you lot cannot take the hormone oestrogen, which is in the combined pill, contraceptive patch and vaginal ring
you can use it at any age

Disadvantages:

you may non take regular periods while taking information technology – your periods may be lighter, more frequent, or may cease altogether, and you may get spotting betwixt periods
it does non protect you against STIs
yous need to remember to take it at or around the same fourth dimension every day
some medicines, including some (uncommon) antibiotics, can brand it less effective

Side effects

The progestogen-only pill is more often than not well tolerated and side effects are rare.

Some side effects include:

acne
breast tenderness and chest enlargement
an increased or decreased sexual practice bulldoze
mood changes
headache and migraine
nausea or airsickness
small-scale fluid-filled sacs (cysts) on your ovaries – these are usually harmless and disappear without treatment

These side effects are most likely to occur during the starting time few months of taking the progestogen-only pill, but they generally improve over time and should finish inside a few months.

If yous have whatsoever concerns near your contraceptive pill, see your GP or practice nurse. They may advise y'all to change to another pill or a unlike form of contraception.

The progestogen-merely pill with other medicines

When y'all accept two or more medicines at the aforementioned fourth dimension, they can sometimes interact with each other.

Some medicines interact with the progestogen-only pill, which tin can cease it working properly.

If y'all want to check whether your medicines are safe to take with the progestogen-simply pill, you tin can:

ask your GP, practise nurse or pharmacist
read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine

Ovarian cysts

In that location is a chance you could develop fluid-filled cysts on your ovaries. These are not dangerous and practice non usually need to be removed.

The cysts unremarkably disappear without treatment. In many cases, the cysts do non cause symptoms, although you may experience pelvic pain.

Breast cancer

Inquiry is continuing into the link between breast cancer and the progestogen-only pill.

There is non enough evidence to say for sure that the progestogen-merely pill does non increase the gamble of breast cancer.

But if there is any increased risk, it'south likely to be very minor and disappear with time later on you stop taking the progestogen-only pill.

Where you tin get the progestogen-only pill

Y'all can get contraception for gratis, even if you lot're under 16, from:

contraception clinics
sexual health clinics
some GP surgeries
some young people's services
pharmacies

Getting contraception during coronavirus

If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. But get in person if asked to.

Some types of contraception are non widely available at the moment, but you should still be able to get the progestogen-only pill.

How practise I change to a different pill?

If you lot desire communication about irresolute your contraceptive pill, you can visit your GP, contraceptive nurse (sometimes called a family planning nurse), sexual health clinic or pharmacist.

You should not have a break between different packs, so you will unremarkably be advised to start the new pill immediately or await until the twenty-four hours later you take the last of your old pills.

You may as well be brash to utilize culling methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may have a curt time to take issue.

If you're under 16 years old

Contraception services are gratis and confidential, including for people nether the age of 16.

If you're under 16 and want contraception, the physician, nurse or chemist will not tell your parents (or carer) equally long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given, and your decisions.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with immature people under 16. They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they will not brand y'all.

The merely time a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at adventure of harm, such equally abuse. The take a chance would need to be serious, and they would ordinarily discuss this with you first.

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Page last reviewed: 2 February 2021
Next review due: two February 2024

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Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/the-pill-progestogen-only/