🌸 Family Planning Series – Week 2: Progestin-only Pills (POPs) & Emergency Pills 🌸

Not all contraceptive pills are the same. Today we focus on two important types:

🔹 1. Progestin-only Pills (POPs – “Mini pill”)

• Composition: contain only progestin (no estrogen).
• How they work: mainly thicken cervical mucus, thin the endometrium, sometimes suppress ovulation.

Best for:

1. Breastfeeding mothers.
2. Women who cannot take estrogen (e.g., smokers >35, clotting disorders).
3. Key point: must be taken at the same time every day. Missing a pill by >3 hours can reduce effectiveness.

✅ Advantages: Safe during lactation, fewer contraindications.

⚠️ Disadvantages: Irregular bleeding, strict timing.

🔹 2. Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs)

Purpose: prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.

Types:

• Levonorgestrel (LNG): most effective within 72 hrs.
• Ulipristal acetate: up to 5 days after unprotected sex.
• How they work: delay ovulation; do not terminate pregnancy.
• Key point: the earlier they are taken, the more effective.

✅ Advantages: last-chance protection, widely available.

⚠️ Disadvantages: not for regular use, may cause nausea/irregular bleeding.