Slynd®: The New Generation Progesterone-Only Pill Now Available in the UK

Why so many women are now asking about Slynd

Slynd is a newer progesterone-only pill that is often recommended for women who cannot take oestrogen or who have struggled with traditional mini-pills. It uses drospirenone rather than older synthetic progestogens, which is why many women are hopeful it will feel different.

And for some, it really does.

When Slynd is often chosen clinically

Slynd is commonly chosen when:

– migraines with aura are present
– oestrogen has caused mood deterioration
– there is suspected progesterone sensitivity
– heavy bleeding is problematic
– combined pills felt intolerable

What makes Slynd appealing is that it suppresses ovulation more reliably than older progesterone-only pills. This means hormone fluctuations may be dampened rather than amplified.

But as with all hormonal treatments, individual response is unpredictable.

Why some women feel better and others dramatically worse

Some women feel calmer, more stable and physically better within weeks. Others experience worsened anxiety, low mood, intrusive thoughts, bloating or emotional flatness.

This contradiction often leaves women confused. How can the same pill help one person and harm another so profoundly?

The answer again lies in hormone sensitivity rather than hormone deficiency. The nervous system and brain can respond very differently to progesterone depending on neurodivergence, trauma history, stress load and life stage. Perimenopausal women, in particular, can react strongly to progesterone shifts.

On the NHS, when Slynd doesn’t work, the usual advice is to stop it and move on. What is often missing is the deeper interpretation of why it failed and what that means for your future options.

How specialist interpretation changes future treatment options

In specialist practice, we treat Slynd as a diagnostic tool as well as a treatment. Your response to it tells us something about your neuro-hormonal wiring. That information then guides what comes next, whether that is continued suppression, cyclical progesterone, different formulations, or non-hormonal stabilisation first.

If you have already tried more than one pill and felt worse each time, it does not mean hormones are “not for you”. It means your system needs a more precise strategy.

Medication is only one layer of treatment. When progesterone triggers anxiety or emotional collapse, we also need to support sleep, stress regulation, micronutrients and nervous system recovery. Prescriptions alone cannot carry that load.

This is why specialist input matters, not to create dependence, but to prevent repeated destabilisation.

If you feel stuck between needing contraception and fearing what it does to your mental health, you are exactly the woman Slynd was designed to help. But it needs to be chosen with care.

FAQ

  • Slynd® is a type of mini pill (progesterone-only pill) that contains drospirenone, a newer form of progesterone. It’s taken daily to prevent pregnancy.

  • Slynd® has a 24-hour missed pill window, which means you have more time to take it if you forget. It may also cause fewer days of unexpected bleeding.

  • When taken correctly, Slynd® is over 99% effective. Even during the four placebo days in each pack, it still works to prevent ovulation.

  • Some women stop bleeding completely while taking Slynd®, which is safe. Others may have lighter or less frequent periods after a few months.

  • Yes. Slynd® has been studied in teenagers and found to be effective and well tolerated.

  • Slynd® may not be suitable for women with serious kidney or liver problems, hormone-sensitive cancers, or unexplained vaginal bleeding. Always speak to a healthcare professional first.

About the Author

Dr Georgina Standen is a Women’s Health GP and Medical Director of Sirona Health. She specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), as well as broader hormonal health and menopause care. Her approach blends evidence-based medicine with personalised, compassionate support to help women regain control of their health and wellbeing.

Sirona Health offers PMS and PMDD consultations in Stroud, Cirencester, Tetbury, Fairford, Lechlade, Calne, Corsham, Chippenham, Malmesbury and Bath, along with nationwide secure online appointments.

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