Progestogen-only pill
[9] For example, the medication Opill contains the synthetic hormone Norgestrel, which has some distinct chemical differences despite producing a similar physiological effect.
[35] Lactational amenorrhea, although a common and effective method of preventing unwanted pregnancy following childbirth, may not be attainable for mothers who elect for or require supplemental or total child feeding with formula.
Progestogen-only pills may also be prescribed for individuals wanting an oral form of birth control but do not wish to use estrogen-containing methods due to medical contraindications, intolerable side effects, or personal preference.
[8] Examples of contraindications to estrogen-containing methods of contraception include relatively common conditions such as hypertension, migraine headaches with aura, or a history of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
[39] Given their ability to impact the menstrual cycle and stabilize the endometrial lining of the uterus, progestogen-only pills may also be used to treat various patterns of abnormal uterine bleeding.
The initial assessment of abnormal uterine bleeding typically focuses on ensuring the patient is medically stable and not in any immediate danger from the underlying cause or associated blood loss.
[citation needed] Depending on the presumed underlying cause of bleeding, medical management with progestogen-only pills, combined oral contraceptives, or tranexamic acid may be appropriate.
[42] The decision to use POPs to treat abnormal uterine bleeding should be made in consultation with a medical professional who can offer guidance on the appropriateness of this treatment option.
Levonorgestrel-IUDs may be more effective than progestogen-only pills and reducing associated bleeding (maintaining healthy hemoglobin levels), uterine volume, and pain, although both methods have shown a beneficial impact.
[43] Patients experiencing mild to moderate pelvic pain from endometriosis may be given non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well as hormonal contraceptives (COCPs or POPs) to help manage their symptoms.
However, progestogen-only pills, including dienogest, medroxyprogesterone acetate, norethisterone, and cyproterone, are also effective in treating symptoms (i.e., pain, excess uterine bleeding), reducing associated lesions, and improving patient quality of life.
[44][45] Recognizing that some patients cannot receive combined oral contraceptives due to a contraindication to the estrogen component, these findings show promise that progestogens can be an alternative therapy capable of producing adequate symptom relief.
[citation needed] Epidemiological evidence on POPs and breast cancer risk is based on much smaller populations of users and so is less conclusive than that for COCPs.
Current or recent POP users had a slightly increased relative risk (RR 1.17) of breast cancer diagnosis that just missed being statistically significant.
[30] There is a growing body of research investigating the links between hormonal contraception, such as the progestogen-only pill, and potential adverse effects on women's psychological health.
[55][56][57] The findings from a large Danish study of one million women (followed-up from January 2000 to December 2013) were published in 2016, and reported that the use of hormonal contraception, particularly amongst adolescents, was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of subsequent depression.
[62][64] In July 2023, the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter (OTC) POP birth control pill to be sold without a prescription in the United States.
