Callie asked
I'm on the mini-pill (with the 3-hour window to take it) at the moment but need to change the time I take it to around 5 hours later as I'm going on holiday. What is the best way to do this?
Answer
Mini-Pills, also known as 'Progestin Only' pills, are a type of oral contraceptive that contains a small dosage of progestin. Unlike the more common 'Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills", which contain larger amounts of both an estrogen and progestin, mini-pills have a much more strict window in which you need to take your medication to maintain effectiveness.
Data suggests that you need to consistently take your dose of a mini-pill within a 3 hours window. If you take it inconsistently, or miss a dose, it is required that you use a back up birth control method for at least 48 hours and you may experience spotting or bleeding. Due to this, your question often comes up - What can you do to change the time of administration?
Most practitioners recommend that if you need to switch the time you take your medication to later in the day, you simply follow the instructions set forth by the manufacturer of these products as if you missed a dose:
- Take your birth control pill at your (new) desired time
- Use a back up birth control method for at least 48 hours from your new administration time
- You may experience mild spotting or bleeding but it should not be significant
Some practitioners may have you simply change the time of administration by a small amount (e.g. 10-15 minutes) each day, but in general, you want to use the method described above to get your body back on a consistent schedule as soon as possible. It is important that you speak with your doctor regarding your specific situation so they can provide more personalized instruction for you.
