New mini-pill Slynd will allow users more flexibility in timing

The 3-hour window for taking the mini-pill will go up to 24 hours with Slynd

The FDA has approved Slynd, a new version of the mini-pill that will bring much-needed flexibility to mini-pill users.

The mini-pill, or the progestin-only birth control pill, is a good option for birth control for people who are not able to use estrogen or prefer not to. Current formulations of the mini-pill have to be taken at the same time every day in order to be fully effective at preventing pregnancy, and if you are 3 or more hours late for a dose, you have to treat that as a missed pill and use back up method of birth control, like a condom (or EC if you didn’t use a condom), if you have sex in the next two days.

Slynd, on the other hand, allows users to be up to 24 hours late in taking a pill without compromising its effectiveness, just like with combination pills. That means that Slynd users don’t need to rely on a backup method until they are 24 hours late taking a pill, which will make the mini-pill significantly easier to use correctly.

Written by Lauren Kernan, MA

Lauren Kernan is the Director of Content and UX Strategy for Bedsider and Abortion Finder. In her spare time, she can be found sewing or starting and giving up on various other crafts.

Want to learn more?

Select one of the related topics to find more.