Minipill (Progestin-Only) - How It Works, How Effective & More

Minipill

The minipill (also called the progestin-only pill) is a small tablet with the hormone progestin that you take daily to prevent pregnancy.
Minipills come in a pack, and you swallow 1 pill every day.
The minipill has a lower dose of hormones than the birth control pill.
You must take minipills within the same 3 hours every day to be protected from pregnancy.
If used perfectly, the minipill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. But people aren’t perfect. So, in reality, the minipill is 91% effective.¹

The minipill contains the hormone progestin to stop you from getting pregnant.
The hormones in the minipill work by:
- Stopping your ovaries from releasing eggs. When eggs aren’t released, you can’t get pregnant.
- Making the mucus in your cervix too thick for sperm to pass through. This prevents sperm from meeting an egg.

In the United States, the average cost for one month’s supply of the minipill is $50. The cost may vary depending on where you live.
Kaiser Permanente members may be able to get minipills at low or no cost.²

Swallow 1 minipill each day at the same time.
After you finish the pack of minipills, immediately start a new pack the next day.
Make sure you fill your prescription for the minipill so you don’t miss a day.
If you forget to take 1 minipill, take it as soon as you can. If you take the pill more than 3 hours late, use condoms as a backup for the next 2 days.
If you forget to take 2 minipills, take 1 as soon as you can and take your next pill at the usual time. You should also use condoms for the next 2 days.

The minipill is 91% effective in preventing pregnancy. That’s because people don’t always use it correctly or take it on time.
You may have more regular, lighter, shorter, and less painful periods.
The minipill helps prevent or lessen acne, period cramps, and iron deficiency.
The minipill is temporary. You can stop using it whenever you want to try getting pregnant.
The minipill can be used after you have a baby and while you’re breastfeeding.
The minipill decreases your risk of endometrial and ovarian cancers.

The minipill doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs/STDs), including HIV. Even if you take the minipill, you should use a condom every time you have sex to reduce your chances of getting or spreading STIs.
If you don’t take the minipill on schedule every day, you’re more likely to get pregnant.
The minipill may cause spotting.
Some people may experience headache or nausea.