How
effective is the POP?
How does the POP work?
Where can I get the POP?
Can anyone use the POP?
What are the advantages
of the POP?
What are the disadvantages
of the POP?
Are there any risks?
How do I start the POP?
How do I take the POP?
What if I forget to take
it on time?
What if I want to change to
a different pill?
Can anything make the
POP less effective?
What do I do if I forget
a pill?
What should I do if I think
I'm pregnant?
How often do I need to see a
doctor or nurse?
At what age should I stop taking
the POP?
I've just had a baby. Can I
take the POP?
Can I start the POP after
a miscarriage/abortion?
I want to have a baby. Can
I try to get pregnant as soon as I stop taking
the POP?
How effective is the POP?
How effective any contraceptive is depends on
how old you are, how often you have sex and whether
you follow the instructions.
If 100 sexually active women don't
use any contraception, 80 to 90 will become pregnant
in a year.
If taken according to instructions
the POP is 99% effective. This means that 1 woman
in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
If the POP is not taken according
to instructions, more women will become pregnant.
There is a possibility with some
POPs that they are less effective in women who
weigh over 70kg (11 stone).
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How does the POP work?
The pill works in a number of ways:
• It works
mainly by thickening the mucus from your cervix.
This makes it difficult for sperm to move through
it and reach an egg.
•
It makes
the lining of your womb thinner so it is less
likely to accept a fertilised egg.
•
It sometimes
stops your ovaries releasing an egg (ovulation).
This is the main action of one POP, Cerazette.
This may mean that Cerazette is more effective
than other POPs, but research has not yet confirmed
this.
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Where can I get the POP?
Family planning doctors, nurses and most GPs provide
contraception. You can go to another general practice
if you prefer not to see your own doctor. For
details of how to find your nearest GP or family
planning clinic, call your national fpa helpline.
See Where do I go for help?.
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Can anyone use the POP?
Not all women can take the POP and a doctor or
nurse will ask you about your own and your family's
medical history. Do mention any illness or operations
you have had. Some of the conditions which may
mean you cannot use the POP are:
•
you think
you might already be pregnant
•
you could not cope with any changes
to your periods
•
you have now or have had in the
past:
- a heart attack or stroke (severe
arterial disease)
- an active disease of the liver or gall bladder
- breast cancer
- unexplained bleeding from your vagina (for example,
between periods or after sex)
- a history of ovarian cysts
- an ectopic pregnancy.
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What are the advantages of the POP?
•
There are
no serious side-effects with the POP.
•
It doesn't
interfere with sex.
•
You can
use it if you are breastfeeding.
•
It is useful
if you cannot take oestrogens, like those found
in the combined pill.
•
You can
use it at any age, but it is especially useful
if you are over 35 and you smoke.
•
It may help
with pre-menstrual tension and painful periods.
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What are the disadvantages of the POP?
•
You may
not have regular periods while you are taking
the POP. Your periods may stop altogether or be
irregular, light, or more frequent. This may settle
down and is not harmful but you may find it annoying.
You may also worry that you are pregnant. •
If you are
in any doubt, see your doctor or nurse. Changing
to a different POP may help.
•
The POP
does not protect you against sexually transmitted
infections, so you may need to use condoms as
well.
•
You have
to remember to take the pill at the same time
every day.
•
You may
get some temporary side-effects when you first
starting taking the POP, these should stop within
a few months. They include:
- spotty skin
- breast tenderness
- weight gain
- headaches.
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Are there any risks?
The POP is a very safe pill to take but there
are some risks.
Some women may develop small fluid-filled
cysts on their ovaries. These are not dangerous
and do not usually need to be removed. Often there
are no symptoms, but some women may have pelvic
pain. These cysts usually disappear without treatment.
If you do become pregnant while
you are taking the POP there is a small increased
risk of you having an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic
pregnancy develops outside your womb, usually
in a fallopian tube. Although this is not common,
it is dangerous. This risk of ectopic pregnancy
is less in women using the POP than in women using
no contraception at all.
Research about the risk of breast
cancer, cervical cancer and hormonal contraception
is complex and contradictory. Current research
suggests that users of all hormonal contraception
appear to have a small increase in risk of being
diagnosed with breast cancer compared to non-users
of hormonal contraception. Further research is
ongoing. All risks and benefits should be discussed
with your doctor or nurse.
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How do I start the POP?
You can start the POP anytime in your menstrual
cycle if you are sure you are not pregnant.
If you start the POP on the first
day of your menstrual cycle (first day of your
period) you will be protected against pregnancy
immediately.
New advice says that you can also
start the POP up to and including the fifth day
of your menstrual cycle and you will be protected
from pregnancy straight away. However, if you
have a short menstrual cycle with your period
coming every 23 days or less, starting the POP
as late as the fifth day of your cycle may not
provide you with immediate contraceptive protection.
This is because you may release an egg (ovulate)
early in your menstrual cycle. You may wish to
talk to your doctor or nurse about this and whether
you need to use an additional contraceptive method
for the first two days.
If you start the POP at any other
time in your menstrual cycle you will need to
use another contraceptive method for the first
two days of your pill taking.
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How do I take the POP?
When taking your first pill choose a convenient
time to take it. This can be anytime of the day.
Once you have chosen a time you
must then take one POP each day at this same time
until you finish all the pills in the pack.
You then start a new pack the
next day so there are no breaks between packs.
This means that you will be taking pills during
your period.
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What if I forget to take it on time?
For your pill to work it is important not to take
it more than three hours (12 hours for Cerazette)
after your chosen time. If you remember later
than this, don't panic, see What do I do if I
forget a pill?.
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What if I want to change to a different
pill?
If you are changing to another POP or from the
combined pill you may be advised to start the
new pill immediately or start the day after you
take your last pill. Do not have a break between
packs. There is no need to wait for your period.
You will then continue to have protection against
pregnancy.
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Can anything make the POP less effective?
•
If you are
late in taking your pill or you miss one or more
pills (see What do I do if I forget a pill?).
•
If you vomit
within two hours of taking the pill or if you
have very severe diarrhoea. If this happens continue
taking the pill as usual and use an extra method
of contraception, such as a condom, during the
stomach upset and for two days after.
•
If you are
given medicines by a doctor, nurse or hospital
always say that you are taking the POP. Commonly
used antibiotics do not affect the POP. Medicines
such as some of those used to treat epilepsy,
HIV and TB and the complementary medicine St John’s
Wort may make it less effective. If you take these
medicines, talk to your doctor or nurse about
how to take the pill or whether you need to use
a different method of contraception.
If you are worried
about the pill not working and you are not sure
what to do, seek advice straight away. Until you
do, use an extra contraceptive method, such as
a condom, when you have sex.
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What do I do if I forget a pill?
If you are more than 3 hours late (12 hours if
taking the POP, Cerazette):
•
Take a pill
as soon as you remember. If you have missed more
than one pill just take one.
•
Take your
next pill at the usual time. This may mean taking
two pills in one day. This is not harmful.
•
You are
not protected against pregnancy. Continue to take
your pills as usual, but you also need to use
an extra method, such as a condom, for the next
two days.
If you are less than 3 hours late (12 hours if
taking the POP, Cerazette):
•
Take it
as soon as you remember, and take the next one
at the usual time. You are protected against pregnancy.
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What should I do if I think I'm pregnant?
If you took all your pills correctly and you didn't
have an upset stomach or take any other medicines
which might affect the POP, then it is unlikely
you are pregnant. Continue to take your pills
as normal. There is no evidence that if you take
the POP when you are pregnant it will harm the
baby. If you are worried ask your doctor or nurse
for advice or do a pregnancy test.
You should seek medical advice
as soon as possible if you have a sudden or unusual
pain in your lower abdomen or if your period is
shorter or lighter than usual. These might be
the warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy.
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How often do I need to see a doctor or nurse?
When you first
start the POP you will usually be given three
months' supply to see how it suits you. At the
next visit supplies may be given for six months
or up to a year.
You do not have to have a vaginal
examination or cervical smear test when you are
first prescribed the POP.
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At what age should I stop taking the POP?
If you have no
medical problems you can take the POP until your
menopause.
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I've just had a baby. Can I take the POP?
Yes. The POP can be started any time after the
birth. If you start the POP after day 21 you will
need to use additional contraception for two days.
You can breastfeed while you are taking the POP.
A tiny amount of hormone enters your breast milk,
but research has shown this will not harm your
baby.
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Can I start the POP after a miscarriage/abortion?
You can start taking
the POP immediately after a miscarriage or abortion.
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I want to have a baby. Can I try to get
pregnant as soon as I stop taking the POP?
You can try to get pregnant as soon as you stop
taking the POP. You can stop taking the pill at
any time. Ideally you should wait for one period
before trying to get pregnant, so you will need
to use another method of contraception, such as
condoms. Waiting means the pregnancy can be dated
more accurately and you can start pre-pregnancy
care such as taking folic acid and stopping smoking.
You can ask your doctor or nurse for advice. Don't
worry if you get pregnant sooner, it will not
harm the baby.
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