Short-term birth control?

My boyfriend and I study at different universities, so we’re long-distance most of the time at the moment. He’s coming over to see me for the weekend sometime this month and it’s likely that we’ll want to have sex. When we started dating, we agreed that we won’t do anything that comes with a considerable risk of me getting pregnant unless I’m on some kind of birth control. What is the best option for me in this situation? We probably won’t be doing it for a month or longer after he goes back home, until one of us can visit the other again. I have a prescription for the progesterone-only pill which I can take, but I’m wondering if it’s worth taking constantly for the occasional weekend of sex. Obviously it’d be different if we lived together, in which case I would just take the pill. Is it possible for me to go on the pill in advance of him visiting and then off until we plan to meet again? Or are there major disadvantages to going on and off it periodically?

My boyfriend and I study at different universities, so we’re long-distance most of the time at the moment. He’s coming over to see me for the weekend sometime this month and it’s likely that we’ll want to have sex. When we started dating, we agreed that we won’t do anything that comes with a considerable risk of me getting pregnant unless I’m on some kind of birth control. What is the best option for me in this situation? We probably won’t be doing it for a month or longer after he goes back home, until one of us can visit the other again. I have a prescription for the progesterone-only pill which I can take, but I’m wondering if it’s worth taking constantly for the occasional weekend of sex. Obviously it’d be different if we lived together, in which case I would just take the pill. Is it possible for me to go on the pill in advance of him visiting and then off until we plan to meet again? Or are there major disadvantages to going on and off it periodically?

You could just use condoms?

I know this is probably the most straightforward option, but I’m very worried about even the small chance of pregnancy, (which is greater than the theoretical 1% in reality) in case the condom splits or something else goes wrong. I’m not emotionally prepared for that outcome at all right now, and I want to use two methods just to be on the safer side so we can both relax and enjoy the experience.

In that case, you should consider looking into long-acting contraception like the implant or coil as they are the most effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use. Stopping and starting the pill is really not a good option and introduces lots of opportunity for error plus will screw up your hormones and probably make your periods super irregular and unpredictable.

The NHS website has a really good information section on contraception if you haven't checked it out already:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/how-effective-contraception/