Progesterone with placebo

Refers to a common packaging format for birth control pills containing both active hormone-containing pills (with progesterone or a progestin) and hormone-free placebo pills. Typically, a pack includes 21 active pills and 7 placebo pills, or 21 active pills followed by a 7-day pill-free interval (equivalent to a placebo period). The placebo pills are included to allow for a withdrawal bleed (menstruation) during the placebo period. Progesterone (or progestin) in birth control works by preventing pregnancy through several mechanisms: * Inhibiting ovulation * Thickening cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to reach the uterus * Altering the uterine lining (endometrium) to prevent implantation While many combination birth control pills contain both estrogen and a progestin, there are also progestin-only pills that utilize this placebo packaging format.

Other names

placebo + progesteroneprogesterone + placeboprogesterone birth control with placeboprogestin-only pill with placebo