Types of Mini-Pill Contraceptives

Mini-pills are synthetic progesterone-only birth control pills. They work by affecting the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and disables movement of the egg through the fallopian tubes. Mini pills are 87-99.7% effective, which is less effective than birth control pills, and missing a pill increases chances of getting pregnant more so than with birth control pills. The various kinds of mini-pills are similar; differences occur mostly in manufacturer warnings and potential side effects.

Ortho Micronor

• Made by the same pharmaceutical company that made Ortho Tri-Cyclen (Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Ortho Micronor has been used for 20 years. The generic version of this pill is called Errin. Like other mini-pills, they are safe for breastfeeding mothers.

Nor-QD

• Nor-QD is another mini-pill. The generic for Nor-QD is Norethindrone. Nor-QD should not be used with barbiturates, penicillin and St. John's Wort (among other medications) because they lower Nor-QD's effectiveness.

Ovrette

• Ovrette has side effects that include weight gain, depression, fatigue, acne, hair loss and decrease in breast size. Ovrette reacts negatively with some anti-seizure drugs and, as with most birth control pills, users should not smoke. The generic form of Ovrette is Norgestrel.

Microval

• Microval is a sugarcoated tablet made of 30mg of Levonorgestrel. The manufacturer warns that hypertension is a possible side effect, as oral contraception increases the likelihood of circulatory disease. The pill may also interfere with hormone production, liver function, glucose tolerance and blood coagulation.