Progestin-Only Pill

Category: hormone

Aliases: POP, Mini-pill

Pharmacological Mechanism

Class entry — usually norethindrone 0.35 mg or drospirenone 4 mg. Mechanism: cervical mucus thickening + endometrial atrophy; ovulation suppression less consistent than COC. Used when estrogen is contraindicated (lactation, VTE history, migraine with aura).

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 9h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 0.35mg (Range: 0.35 - 4 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• endocrine
• reproductive
• musculoskeletal