While there is less blood loss, bleeding may be irregular and there may be spotting between periods. Mini-pills tend to make periods short. You may go several months with no bleeding at all. You have to remember to take a pill every single day. The failure rate with mini-pills is bit higher than with combined birth control pills.
Some women use a backup method such as condoms while they are taking mini-pills.
Progestin-only pills do not protect you from HIV or other infections. Birth control pills are sealed individually in circles or rows so that you can determine if you have taken each day's pill. If the pills are different colors from row to row then they contain different levels of hormones. The packages are usually designed for starting the Pill in one of two ways. Take the first pill on the first day of your regular menstrual bleeding.