How you prepare

You'll need a prescription for the minipill from your health care provider.

As long as you aren't pregnant, you can start taking the minipill anytime — ideally on the first day of your menstrual period. Your health care provider might recommend using a backup method of birth control, such as a condom, for the first two days after you start taking the minipill.

You might be able to skip the backup birth control if you start taking the minipill:

• During the first five days of your period
• Between six weeks and six months after giving birth if you are fully or nearly fully breast-feeding and haven't had a period
• Within the first 21 days after giving birth if you're not breast-feeding
• The day after you stop using another hormonal method of contraception
• Immediately after pregnancy termination

If you're switching from a combination birth control pill to the minipill, start taking the minipill the day after you take your last active combination birth control pill.