Sexual Health Birth Control Prescription Options Progestin-Only Birth Control Options By Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC twitter linkedin Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience. Learn about our editorial process Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD on December 03, 2019 linkedin Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Brian Levine, MD Updated on April 04, 2020 Print Hormonal birth control is used by women to prevent pregnancy. It typically involves the combined use of synthetic progesterone (progestin) and estrogen. While the two hormones together are considered more effective, there are some women who have a sensitivity to synthetic estrogen and cannot take it. As a result, progestin-only options are available. Who May Benefit? Progestin-only birth control is also considered a safer option for women at risk of heart disease or stroke. Estrogen, by contrast, is known to increase cardiovascular risk, particularly in: Smokers over the age of 35Women with high blood pressureWomen with a history of blood clots Other women may also benefit from progestin-only birth control, including breastfeeding mothers (as progestin will not affect milk production or harm the baby), overweight or obese women, or women who have never given birth. Even on its own, progestin-only options are between 93 and 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Common Side Effects Progestin-only birth control pills share common side effects, some of which will resolve over time. They may include: HeadacheNauseaSpotting or irregular vaginal bleedingAmenorrhea (no period)Prolonged periodsBreast tendernessWeight gain Side effects of the progestin injection include: Irregular periodsLoss of bone density There are currently six forms of progestin-only birth control methods available in the United States: 1 Progestin-Only Birth Control Pills Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images As per their name, progestin-only birth control pills (also known as the mini-pill or POPs) do not contain any estrogen. They are available in 28-day packs which you take every day during your four-week cycle. All 28 pills contain progestin; there are no placebo pills. The mini-pill only comes in one formulation in the U.S. called norethindrone. What to Know About Progestin-Only Birth Control Pills 2 Depo-Provera Injection Depo-Provera is a birth control injection that slowly releases progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate into your body, providing protection from pregnancy from 11 to 14 weeks. If you opt to use Depo-Provera, you would need four injections each year. Depo-Provera injections offer the added benefit of lowering the pain associated with endometriosis. Depo-Provera has a black box warning that cautions against possible bone loss and the increased risk of osteoporosis. For this reason, Depo-Provera should never be used for more than two years and should be entirely avoided in teenagers. Common side effects include weight gain, irregular bleeding, spotting, and prolonged bleeding. Once stopped, it may take up to a year or more to start ovulating again. What to Know About Depo-Provera 3 Mirena IUD The Mirena IUD is a small intrauterine device (IUD) that continuously releases a small amount of progestin over a five-year period. Because Mirena contains progestin, it is seen to be somewhat more effective than the ParaGard IUD. The Mirena IUD has also been approved to help treat heavy periods. The Mirena IUD is inserted by your doctor and has handy strings that allow you to check that the device is still in place. As with all intrauterine devices, complications may include the perforation to the uterus, infection, and accidental expulsion. What to Know About the Mirena IUD 4 Skyla IUD Skyla is another progestin-only IUD option. It is a bit smaller than Mirena and is typically easier for a doctor to insert. Once inserted, the Skyla slowly releases a form of progestin (called levonorgestrel) over a three-year period. The complications of use are the same as for the Mirena IUD, which may include uterine perforation, infection, and expulsion. What to Know About the Skyla IUD 5 Nexplanon Subdermal Implant Nexplanon is the newer version of Implanon subdermal implant. This is a progestin-only birth control device contains 68 milligrams (mg) of the progestin etonogestrel and consists of a flexible plastic implant about the size of a matchstick. Nexplanon is inserted under the skin of the arm and can provide up to three years of pregnancy protection. Nexplanon is radiopaque, meaning that it can be seen in X-ray. This helps your doctor see if it has been properly placed. Insertion requires a local anesthetic and generally takes a few minutes. After implantation, you may experience bruising, pain, itching, burning, numbness, bleeding, scarring, or infection at the insertion site. What to Know About Nexplanon 6 Noristerat Injection The noristerat injection is a birth control delivery system containing progestin norethisterone enanthate. It is not available in the U.S. but is commonly used in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, and Central America. The noristerat injection is designed to be a short-term birth control method. Women usually choose it after being immunized against rubella or while awaiting their partner's vasectomy to become effective. The noristerat injection will continuously release progestin into your system for up to eight weeks. What to Know About Noristerat Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Carlton C, Banks M, Sundararajan S. Oral contraceptives and ischemic stroke risk. Stroke. 2018;49(4):e157-e159. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.117.020084 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contraception. Updated March 17, 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Progestin-Only Hormonal Birth Control: Pill and Injection US Food & Drug Administration. Physician Information: Depo-Provera. Mirena. Questions and answers about Mirena. Planned Parenthood. IUD Nexplanon. Highlights of Prescribing Information. emc. Noristerat 200 mg, solution for intramuscular injection Additional Reading Shoupe. D (Editor). Contraception. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4443-3351-0.