hello! i was recently told by my doctor that i need to switch from the combination pill to the mini pill due to having migraines with aura. i’ve never switched birth control before and ive been worried about having to switch to the mini pill. i’ve never missed a pill and am very responsible with taking my pills on time. i don’t have anything to worry about right? i’ve read that it’s less effective because it doesn’t have the estrogen but if i take it on time i will be okay right? i’m switching in 3 days and im pretty nervous

i did the same switch, it’s not less effective but if you miss one singular pill you become unprotected, and it has a lower timeframe - possibly what people could mean by less effective as it has more chance of user error. but really as long as you take it correctly you’re perfectly fine, i’ve been on it a year and a half with unprotected sex and i’m fine :)

okay thank you so much! can i ask at what point in your cycle of the combo pill did you switch to the mini? my doctor told me to do it asap but i wanted to finish my current pack first. i should start it on the first day of my break week right?

@nugget457 I was also on the combo pill and switched to the mini pill Opill. Im pretty sure with all mini pills you can start at any time and you will be protected in 42 hrs. I definitely have the same scares you do but I started after my 4th placebo while in the combo pill waited 42hrs until i had any unprotected sex and I have had unprotected sex many times and have been fine. You just need to be very careful that you take it at the exact same time or no more than 3 hrs.

It’s not less effective, it’s just more sensitive to user error due to its 3 or 12 hour usage window. If you use it correctly it’s as reliable as any other form of birth control. Any sex you have before missing a pill remains protected and the mini pill needs 2 days to become active again after.