The POP

The POP (or mini-pill as it is commonly known) contains progestogen only and should not be confused with the combined pill which contains an estrogen and a progestogen.

The POP can be taken by women who have a low tolerance of estrogen or a risk factor associated with the estrogen in the combined pill.

The POP is marginally less effective than the combined pill because it has to be taken at exactly the same time every day (within 3 hours) to prevent pregnancy. For this reason, it tends to be prescribed less often to younger age-groups or to women who are forgetful.

There are no pill breaks with the POP and no 'dummy' pills. You take one packet right after another - a pill a day, every day of the year.

How the POP works
The main effect of the POP is to alter the cervical mucus at the entrance to the womb, making it thick and sticky which stops the sperm getting through. It also alters the lining of the uterus.

In approximately 4 out of 10 women, it also prevents ovulation so there is no egg to be fertilised.

Break-through bleeding and spotting are more common on the POP and periods can stop altogether, but this doesn't mean you are pregnant or that there is anything wrong.

More about the POP (mini-pill)