Progestogen-only pill

The POP pill works by preventing the sperm reaching an egg and fertilising it. It interrupts the process in two ways:

• thickening the mucus from your cervix, making it difficult for sperm to move through and reach an egg
• it sometimes stops your ovaries releasing an egg (ovulation). This is the main action of POPs containing the hormone desogestrel

The POP pill is available free of charge from a range or services including contraceptive clinics, your GP and Brook. Find your nearest one using our find a service tool.

Contraception and sexual health services such as Brook are free and confidential, including for people under the age of 16. Health professionals work to strict guidelines and won’t tell anyone else about your visit unless they believe you’re at serious risk of immediate harm. Find out more about Brook’s confidentiality policy.

When you go to get the POP pill, an appointment will typically include:

• A few questions about your medical and family history, to work out what would suit you best.
• You’ll discuss other medicines you are taking in case they can make the POP pill less effective.
• The doctor or nurse will take your blood pressure and weigh you.

When you first start the POP pill you will usually be given a three month supply. Follow up appointments and reviews are then usually every 6-12 months providing there are no issues.

You take one pill every day from your pack and you don’t have a break between packs.

There are two different types of progestogen-only pill:

Starting and taking the POP pill:

• choose the time of day that suits you best
• take it at the same time every day until you finish the packet
• start the next packet straight away.

If you start taking the POP in the first five days of your period, you will be protected against pregnancy straight away.

If you have a short menstrual cycle, where your period is normally 23 days or less, starting on the fifth day of your period may mean you are not immediately protected (because you might ovulate early). You therefore may need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, for the first two days.

If you start taking the pill at any other time in your menstrual cycle, it will take two days before it starts to work. So you’ll need to use condoms for the first two days.

If you have missed a pill outside of the 3 or 12 hour window:

1. Take a pill as soon as you remember. If you have missed more than one, only take one
2. Take your next pill at the usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day. This is not harmful
3. You are not protected against pregnancy. Continue to take your pills as usual, but use an additional method of contraception, such as condoms, for the next two days.

If you have missed a pill but it’s still inside the 3 or 12 hour window:

• Take a pill as soon as you remember, and take the next one at the usual time, even if this means taking two pills in the same day. You are protected from pregnancy.

• Taking it outside of the designated 3 or 12 hour window
• Vomiting within two hours of taking it
• Very severe diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours
• Some medicines can reduce the effectiveness of the pill, such as those used to treat epilepsy, HIV and TB and the complementary medicine St John’s Wort.
• Commonly used antibiotics do not reduce the effectiveness of the pill, but it is always best to check with the doctor, nurse or pharmacist first

If you stop taking the pill but don’t want to become pregnant remember to use another method of contraception. Condoms will also protect against STIs.