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Every woman is different and Mini-Pills are not recommended for all women. Due to the risk of serious health problems, women with the following conditions should not use Mini-Pills:
Mini-Pills may not be recommended for women who are concerned with weight gain, have liver disease, gallbladder disease, heart disease, diabetes, or a history of depression. Health Risks:
Benefits:
The most common side effect for women using Mini-Pills is irregular bleeding. While many women on Mini-Pills have normal periods, others may have irregular periods, spotting between periods or no periods at all. If you do not bleed for 60 days, call the clinic to arrange for a pregnancy test but continue taking your pills. Other possible side effects of the Mini-Pill are mood changes, headaches, and lowered sex drive. Some of the typical side effects of regular birth control pills, such as nausea, and breast tenderness, usually do not occur with Mini-Pills. The effectiveness of Mini-Pills is lowered when taken with certain medications. These drugs include rifampin and anti-seizure medications. If you are taking any medications, tell your clinician. When taking medications that may interfere with Mini-Pills, consider adding a backup method of birth control, like condoms and spermicide. As with all drugs, it is useful to inform all your medical providers if you are using hormonal birth control.
Women who experience any of the following symptoms while taking Mini-Pills should call the clinic immediately:
3 or more hours late: Take a pill as soon as your remember. Use a backup method for 48 hours. 1 pill missed: Take a pill as soon as you remember and take the next one at the usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day. If you only miss one pill and make it up, you probably will not get pregnant. Use a backup method for 2 weeks. 2 pills missed: Take 2 pills each day for the next 2 days. Use a backup method for 2 weeks. You may have some spotting or bleeding. If the bleeding is like a period, call the clinic. 3 or more pills missed: Use a backup method and call the clinic for instructions. NEVER TAKE MORE THAN 2 PILLS IN 1 DAY.
Women who want to become pregnant may stop using Mini-Pills at any time. Fertility may return immediately or after a few months.
Emergency Contraception (The "Morning After" Pill - "Plan B" - "EC") You can prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse by taking Emergency Contraception pills (Plan B). Plan B works by giving the body a short burst of synthetic hormones that disrupt the hormone patterns needed for a pregnancy to start. Some types of regular birth control pills will work. Emergency Contraception is most effective 24-48 hours after unprotected intercourse but it can work for several days. To find a clinic, doctor or pharmacy close to you, call the nationwide Emergency Contraception Hotline at 1-800-584-9911, 24 hours a day in English or Spanish (also at 1-888-NOT-2-LATE and ec.princeton.edu). If you already have birth control pills in your possession, ask the hotline how to use them as emergency contraception. Or call our clinics at 800-572-4223 and ask how to use the birth control pills you already have to prevent pregnancy after sex. In Washington State you can get Plan B directly from your pharmacy without first getting a prescription from a doctor. Call ahead to make sure they have it in stock and a trained person available to give it to you. Women's health activists are working to make Plan B available over-the-counter nationwide so that one day soon you could purchase it at your neighborhood drug store. Some people are buying Plan B in advance (it costs around $35-50) so they will have it on hand if they need.
March 3, 2008 |
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