Progesterone pills are used as low-dose birth control pills that contain only one type of hormone. They are also used as part of HRT, or hormone-replacement therapy in menopausal women, to help treat symptoms of menopause and decrease the risks of certain diseases. A birth control pill called the mini-pill contains a synthetic form of progesterone called progestin, unlike regular birth control pills, which contain both female hormones, estrogen and progestin. Progesterone-only pills do not cause as many side effects, such as headaches. This pill works by simulating a pregnancy in the body and preventing ovulation. Progesterone also thickens the mucous between the uterus or womb and the vagina, making it more difficult for sperm to reach the egg for fertilization.
Step 1
Get progesterone pill prescription medication from your primary care physician and begin taking it only when you have determined you are not pregnant. This can be done by a blood test or by the occurrence of your menstrual cycle. Progesterone birth control pills are prescribed in packs of 28 and one pill is taken per day. Each pill contains a low dose of progestin.
Step 2
Take the progesterone pill at the same time every day for best results. Accurate timing is more important for progesterone pills than it is for regular birth control pills, advises RxList.com. If you take the progesterone pill more than three hours later than the scheduled time, use a condom or other backup form of contraceptive.
Step 3
Take one progesterone pill per day by swallowing it whole with a glass of water. Do not break or crush the tablet. To develop a routine time to take the pill, take it first thing in the morning when you wake up, or before going to bed at night. Try setting an alarm on your phone to remind you to take the progesterone pill at the same time every day.
Step 4
Take the progesterone pills for one month before using it as a sole method of preventing pregnancy. For the first month, use a second type of contraception such as condoms or abstinence, along with the progesterone pills to prevent pregnancy.
Step 5
Do not take two progesterone pills if you miss a dose. Continue the regular daily dosage and use an additional form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
Tips and Warnings
- Progesterone pills are recommended for breastfeeding women because they do not alter milk production, unlike estrogen-containing birth control pills. The National Institute of Health notes that they may also be safer for women over the age of 35 years and women who have high blood pressure, who smoke, are overweight or obese or have a history of blood clots.
- Like all birth control pills, progesterone pills must be taken every day, at the same time. It is best to begin birth control after having a menstrual cycle to ensure that you are not pregnant. Birth control pills cannot prevent sexually transmitted diseases and are not 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, according to FamilyDoctor.org.
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