Contraceptive Pill

The Progestogen-only Contraceptive Pill (POP)

The “traditional” progestogen-only pill (POP) prevents pregnancy by thickening the mucus in the cervix to stop sperm reaching an egg. The desogestrel progestogen-only pill can also stop ovulation. 

At a glance: facts about the progestogen-only pill

Progestogen-only pills contain the hormone progestogen, but don’t contain oestrogen. You need to take the progestogen-only pill reliably every day.

• If taken correctly, it's more than 99% effective. This means fewer than 1 woman in 100 who uses the progestogen-only pill as contraception will get pregnant in 1 year.
• With "typical use" of the progestogen-only pill (the way it's taken by a lot of women in real life), it's only about 92% effective.
• You take a pill every day, with no break between packs of pills.
• The progestogen-only pill can be used by women who can't use contraception that contains oestrogen.
• You can take the progestogen-only pill if you're over 35 and you smoke.
• You must take the progestogen-only pill at the same time each day. If you take it more than 3 hours late (traditional progestogen-only pill) – or 12 hours late (desogestrel pill) – it may not be effective.
• If you're sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea, the progestogen-only pill may not work.
• Some medicines may affect the progestogen-only pill's effectiveness – ask your doctor for details.
• Your periods may stop or become lighter, irregular or more frequent.
• Side effects may include spotty skin and breast tenderness – these should clear up within a few months.
• You'll need to use condoms as well as the progestogen-only pill to be protected against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

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The Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COC)

The combined oral contraceptive pill is usually just called “the pill”. It contains artificial versions of female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally in their ovaries.

When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that fewer than one woman in 100 who use the combined pill as contraception will get pregnant in one year. Other methods, such as the IUD, implant and injection, are more effective.

The usual way to take the pill is to take one every day for 21 days, then stop for seven days, and during this week you have a period-type bleed. You start taking the pill again after seven days.

You need to take the pill at around the same time every day. You could get pregnant if you don’t do this, or if you miss a pill, or vomit or have severe diarrhoea.

Some medicines may make the pill less effective. Check with your doctor if you’re taking any other tablets.

If you have heavy periods or painful periods, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or endometriosis the combined pill may help.

Minor side effects include mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches.

There is no evidence that the pill makes women gain weight.

There’s a very low risk of serious side effects, such as blood clots and cervical cancer.

The combined pill is not suitable for women over 35 who smoke, or women with certain medical conditions.

The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so using a condom as well will help to protect you against STIs.

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Emergency Contraception

If applicable timewise, you can book into our Minor Illness Clinics with an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. If this is not within the time constraints, then please ask for a appointment where we will be happy to assist you in a timely manner. Alternatively there is the WISH clinic that you can attend.