Medical Questions » Contraception Questions » Question No. 218
Question: | What is the difference between the mini-pill and other oral contraceptives? |
Answer: | Most oral contraceptives (known as combined pills) contain two different hormones that roughly correspond to the two types of hormone produced by your ovaries. They may be given as a steady dose of hormone throughout the month, ot may have two or three different levels of hormone to correspond with the natural changes in your body. After 21 days, you stop the pill or start taking sugar pills. This drop in hormone levels allows you to have a period.
The mini-pill has only one hormone in it, and this in a very low dose. It is taken constantly, with no break for periods, and must be taken at the same time every day. Periods will still occur, but they may be irregular and are usually light. It is not as reliable as the combined form of pill, and is normally only given to older women, those who cannot tolerate the combined pill, smokers, or those who are breast feeding.
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