PATIENT INFORMATION
Patients should be counseled that oral contraceptives do not protect against
transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such
as Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis.
INTRODUCTION
This leaflet is about birth control pills that contain one hormone, a progestin.
Please read this leaflet before you begin to take your pills. It is meant to
be used along with talking with your doctor or clinic.
Progestin-only pills are often called “POPs” or “the minipill.”
POPs have less progestin than the combined birth control pill (or “the
pill”) which contains both an estrogen and a progestin.
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE POPS?
About 1 in 200 (0.5%) POPs users will get pregnant in the first year if they
all take POPs perfectly (that is, on time, every day). About 1 in 20 (5%) “typical”
POPs users (including women who are late taking pills or miss pills) gets pregnant
in the first year of use. The following table will help you compare the efficacy
of different methods.
IUD: 1-2% |
Depo-Provera® (injectable progesterone): 0.3% |
Norplant® System (levonorgestrel implants): 0.1% |
Diaphragm with spermicides: 18% |
Spermicides alone: 21% |
Male condom alone: 12% |
Female condom alone: 21% |
Cervical cap: |
Women who have never given birth: 18% |
Women who have given birth: 36% |
Periodic abstinence: 20% |
No methods: 85% |
HOW DO POPS WORK?
- They make the cervical mucus at the entrance to the womb (the uterus) too
thick for the sperm to get through to the egg.
- They prevent ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary) in about half
the time.
- They also affect other hormones, the fallopian tubes and the lining of the
uterus.
YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE POPS
- If there is any chance you may be pregnant.
- If you have breast cancer.
- If you have bleeding between your periods which has not been diagnosed.
- If you are taking certain drugs for epilepsy (seizures) or for TB. (See
USING POPS WITH OTHER MEDICINES below.)
- If you are hypersensitive or allergic to any component of this product.
- If you have liver tumors, either benign or cancerous.
- If you have acute liver disease.
RISKS OF TAKING POPS
WARNING: If you have sudden or severe pain in your lower abdomen or
stomach area, you may have an ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst. If this
happens, you should contact your doctor or clinic immediately.
Ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy outside the
womb. Because POPs protect against pregnancy, the chance of having pregnancy
outside the womb is very low. If you do get pregnant while taking POPs, you
have a slightly higher chance that the pregnancy will be ectopic than do users
of some other birth control methods.
Ovarian cysts. These cysts are small sacs of fluid in the ovary.
They are more common among POP users than among users of most other birth
control methods. They usually disappear without treatment and rarely cause
problems.
Cancer of the reproductive organs and breasts. Some studies in women
who use combined oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and a progestin
have reported an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly
at a younger age and apparently related to duration of use. There is insufficient
data to determine whether the use of POPs similarly increases this risk.
Some studies have found an increase in the incidence of cancer of the cervix
in women who use oral contraceptives. However, this finding may be related
to factors other than the use of oral contraceptives and there is insufficient
data to determine whether the use of POPs increases the risk of developing
cancer of the cervix.
Liver tumors. In rare cases, combined oral contraceptives can cause
benign but dangerous liver tumors. These benign liver tumors can rupture and
cause fatal internal bleeding. In addition, a possible but not definite association
has been found with combined oral contraceptives and liver cancers in studies
in which a few women who developed these very rare cancers were found to have
used combined oral contraceptives for long periods of time. There is insufficient
data to determine whether POPs increase the risk of liver tumors.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STDS)
WARNING: POPs do not protect against getting or giving someone HIV (AIDS)
or any other STD, such as Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts or herpes.
SIDE EFFECTS
Irregular bleeding. The most common side effect of POPs is a change
in menstrual bleeding. Your periods may be either early or late, and you may
have some spotting between periods. Taking pills late or missing pills can
also result in some spotting or bleeding.
Other side effects.Less common side effects include headaches, tender
breasts, nausea and dizziness. Weight gain, acne and extra hair on your face
and body have been reported, but are rare.
If you are concerned about any of these side effects, check with your doctor
or clinic.
USING POPS WITH OTHER MEDICINES
Before taking a POP, inform your health care provider of any other medication,
including over-the-counter medicine, that you may be taking.
If you are taking medicines for seizures (epilepsy) or tuberculosis (TB), tell
your doctor or clinic. These medicines can make POPs less effective:
Medicines for seizures:
- Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol®)
- Phenobarbital
Medicine for TB:
Before you begin taking any new medicines be sure your doctor or clinic knows
you are taking birth control pills that contain a progestin.
HOW TO TAKE POPS
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER
- POPs must be taken at the same time every day, so choose a time and then
take the pill at the same time every day. Every time you take a pill late,
and especially if you miss a pill, you are more likely to get pregnant.
- Start the next pack the day after the last pack is finished. There is no
break between packs. Always have your next pack of pills ready.
- You may have some menstrual spotting between periods. Do not stop taking
your pills if this happens.
- If you vomit soon after taking a pill, use a backup method (such as condom
and/or spermicide) for 48 hours.
- If you want to stop taking POPs, you can do so at any time, but, if you
remain sexually active and don't wish to become pregnant, be certain to use
another birth control method.
- If you are not sure about how to take POPs, ask your doctor or clinic.
STARTING POPS
- It's best to take your first POP on the first day of your menstrual period.
- If you decide to take your first POP on another day, use a backup method
(such as condom and/or spermicide) every time you have sex during the next
48 hours.
- If you have had a miscarriage or an abortion, you can start POPs the next
day.
IF YOU ARE LATE OR MISS TAKING YOUR POPS
- If you are more than 3 hours late or you miss one or more POPs:
TAKE a missed pill as soon as you remember that you missed it,
THEN go back to taking POPs at your regular time,
BUT be sure to use a backup method (such as condom and/or spermicide) every
time you have sex for the next 48 hours.
- If you are not sure what to do about the pills you have missed, keep taking
POPs and use a backup method until you can talk to your doctor or clinic.
IF YOU ARE BREASTFEEDING
- If you are fully breastfeeding (not giving your baby any food or formula),
you may start your pills 6 weeks after delivery.
- If you are partially breastfeeding (giving your baby some food or formula),
you should start taking pills by 3 weeks after delivery.
IF YOU ARE SWITCHING PILLS
- If you are switching from the combined pills to POPs, take the first POP
the day after you finish the last active combined pill. Do not take any of
the 7 inactive pills from the combined pill pack. You should know that many
women have irregular periods after switching to POPs, but this is normal and
to be expected.
- If you are switching from POPs to the combined pills, take the first active
combined pill on the first day of your period, even if your POPs pack is not
finished.
- If you switch to another brand of POPs, start the new brand anytime.
- If you are breastfeeding, you can switch to another method of birth control
at any time, except do not switch to the combined pills until you stop breastfeeding
or at least until 6 months after delivery.
PREGNANCY WHILE ON THE PILL
If you become pregnant, or think you might be, stop taking POPs and contact
your physician. Even though research has shown that POPs do not cause harm to
the unborn baby, it is always best not to take any drugs or medicines that you
don't need when you are pregnant.
You should get a pregnancy test:
- If your period is late and you took one or more pills late or missed taking
them and had sex without a backup method.
- Anytime you miss 2 periods in a row.
WILL POPS AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO GET PREGNANT LATER?
If you want to become pregnant, simply stop taking POPs. POPs will not delay
your ability to get pregnant.
BREASTFEEDING
If you are breastfeeding, POPs will not affect the quality or amount of your
breast milk or the health of your nursing baby. However, isolated cases of decreased
milk production have been reported. If you suspect that you are not producing
enough milk for your baby, contact your doctor or clinic.
OVERDOSE
No serious problems have been reported when many pills were taken by accident,
even by a small child, so there is usually no reason to treat an overdose.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS
Cigarette smoking greatly increases the possibility of suffering heart attacks
and strokes. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.
Diabetic women taking POPs do not generally require changes in the amount of
insulin they are taking. However, your physician may monitor you more closely
under these conditions.
If you have any questions or concerns, check with your doctor or clinic. You
can also ask for the more detailed “professional package labeling”
written for doctors and other health care providers.
HOW TO STORE YOUR POPS
Store your POPs at room temperature 15 - 25°C (59 - 77°F).
Be certain to read new revisions of this leaflet. You may check the date
of the most recent revision by phoning the manufacturer toll-free at 1-800-272-5525
or by writing to the address below.