Norgeston

Norgeston is a progesterone-only contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy. It contains the active ingredient levonorgestrel, which is similar to the progesterone hormone that is naturally produced by the body. Norgeston is commonly known as the mini pill or POP and is a common contraceptive option for people who can not take oestrogen.

To take Norgeston, you swallow 1 pill whole with water at the same time every day without a break.

Each strip of Norgeston has 35 pills containing 30 micrograms (mcg) of levonorgestrel and has the days of the week printed on it. To take Norgeston, you should:

• start with your first pill on the correct day of the week, as this can help you keep track
• take 1 pill every day following the direction of the arrows on the blister pack
• start a new pack the next day after finishing your current pack of 35 pills

Norgeston can be taken with or without food. If you get side effects like nausea, it might help to take it with food rather than on an empty stomach.

When to start Norgeston

You can start taking Norgeston at any time, but you must continue to take the pill at this time of day going forward. If you start taking it on the first day of your period or within the first 5 days, you will be protected immediately.

If you start to take Norgeston after day 5 of your period, you need to take Norgeston once a day for 2 days to be protected, and you should use condoms during this time if you have sex, or there’s a chance of pregnancy.

You can stop taking Norgeston at any time without having to ‘wean’ off it.

Who can take Norgeston?

Norgeston is suitable for people who:

• are not pregnant
• do not have severe liver disease, liver tumours, or jaundice
• do not have a history of breast cancer or other types of cancer affected by sex hormones
• do not have unexplained vaginal bleeding
• do not have a history of heart attacks or stroke
• are not allergic to any of the ingredients listed in Norgeston
• do not have severe diabetes with changes to their blood vessels

What to do if you miss a pill

If you miss a pill and it is less than 3 hours late, you should take it as soon as you remember. You will still be protected from pregnancy.

If you miss your pill and it has been more than 3 hours, you should take your next pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 pills in the same day. You will not be fully protected from pregnancy and will need to use extra contraception, such as condoms, for the next 7 days. If you had unprotected sex within the 7 days before your missed pill, you may be at risk of pregnancy. The risk of pregnancy increases if you miss more than 1 pill.

Norgeston contains levonorgestrel and works to prevent pregnancy in 2 main ways:

• thickening the cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to enter the womb
• preventing the womb lining from thickening, making it more difficult for a fertilised egg to implant and grow in it

Norgeston can also stop ovulation in some people, so that no egg is released to be fertilised.

How long does it take until Norgeston is effective?

If taken on the first day of your period, Norgeston will be effective immediately. If it is taken after the fifth day of your cycle, you will not be protected for 48 hours and should use extra protection, such as condoms.

How effective is Norgeston?

When taken perfectly, Norgeston can be more than 99% effective. However, with typical use, it is around 91% effective. This could include missing the 3-hour window, or having severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea after taking it, which means the medication may not have been absorbed properly.

Norgeston will not protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Norgeston can cause some side effects, but not everyone will get them.

Common side effects of Norgeston include:

• bleeding or spotting in between your periods
• having no periods

Less common side effects of Norgeston include:

• headaches or migraines
• acne
• mood changes
• losing interest in sex
• feeling dizzy
• diarrhoea
• feeling or being sick
• putting on weight or losing weight

Rare side effects of Norgeston include:

• facial swelling, also known as oedema
• pelvic pain
• blood clots
• allergic reactions, including rash or wheezing
• breast cancer, signs of which include any changes to your breasts, such as lumps or changes in the nipples

What to do if you get Norgeston side effects

Most side effects of Norgeston should improve or clear up within a few months and can be easily managed at home. You can treat:

• headaches and migraines by staying hydrated, resting, and taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol
• irregular periods by getting adequate sleep, exercising regularly (but not over-exercising), and managing stress
• feeling sick, being sick, and diarrhoea by staying hydrated, eating small portions of bland food, and getting plenty of rest
• mood swings, by managing your stress level, prioritising rest and mindfulness, and engaging in meaningful activity

If side effects continue, worsen, or you are not able to deal with them, you should talk to your doctor about how to deal with the side effects or changing your contraception.

Norgeston may not be suitable for everyone. If you have a medical condition or take certain medications, Norgeston may not be as effective or could be potentially unsafe for you.

You should not take Norgeston if you are:

• pregnant or might be pregnant
• allergic to the active ingredient

Medical conditions

You should speak with your doctor before taking Norgeston if you have:

• severe liver disease or liver tumours
• or have ever had breast cancer
• a history of blood clots or issues with blood circulation
• severe diabetes with blood vessel changes
• ovarian cysts
• or have ever suffered from yellowing of the skin (jaundice)

Medications

Before you take Norgeston, you should speak with your doctor if you are taking:

• some epilepsy medications, such as carbamazepine or phenytoin
• medication to treat HIV and hepatitis C, such as ritonavir
• medications used to treat severe vomiting, such as aprepitant
• medications used to treat certain heart conditions or high blood pressure, such as verapamil or diltiazem
• some medications used to treat high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs, such as bosentan
• anti-fungal medications, such as griseofulvin
• certain antibiotics
• sedatives, including barbiturates such as phenobarbital
• St John’s Wort

Norgeston is a prescription-only medication that can be obtained online from a trusted pharmacy and is also available on the NHS.

Can I buy Norgeston online?

Yes, you can request Norgeston online with Asda Online Doctor. To get Norgeston from us, you will first need to complete a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review. Then:

1. Place your order.
2. If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging, or you can choose to collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy 4 hours after a doctor’s approval.
3. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

Ordering Norgeston through our contraceptive service allows you to stay protected from pregnancy while being able to manage everything online. There’s no need to pick up your prescription if you do not have the time, as you can get the pill delivered straight to your door. And if you need any further advice or support, you can message a doctor for free through your private patient account.

Can I buy Norgeston over the counter?

No, you cannot buy Norgeston over-the-counter as it is a prescription-only medication.

Can I get Norgeston on the NHS?

Yes, you can get a prescription for Norgeston from the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with your doctor. You may be prescribed Norgeston or a generic version.

There are alternative pills to Norgeston, some that contain similar hormones to Norgeston and options that contain different ones. There are also non-hormonal options available. You should speak to your doctor to help find the right option for you.

Some alternative mini-pill options are:

• Cerelle or Cerazette, which both contain 75mcg of desogestrel
• Noriday, which contains 350mcg of norethisterone

An alternative to the mini pill is a combined pill. These contain synthetic progesterone and oestrogen.

Some combined pill alternatives include:

• Microgynon 30, Levest, and Rigevidon, which all contain 150mcg of levonorgestrel and 30mcg of ethinylestradiol
• Yasmin, which contains 0.03mg of ethinylestradiol and 3mg of drospirenone
• Gedarel, which contains either 20mcg or 30mcg of ethinylestradiol and 150mcg of desogestrel
• Cilique, which contains 250mcg of norgestimate and 35mcg of ethinylestradiol

Non-hormonal options

If taking a pill is not for you or you do not want to use a hormonal contraceptive, there are other options available. These include:

1. Condoms, a barrier method that is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and also protects against STIs.
2. Copper intrauterine device (IUD), which is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy and lasts for 5 or 10 years, depending on the type.
3. Spermicides come in a range of forms, such as gels, creams, and foams. They are 79% effective at preventing pregnancy when used alone, but are usually used with diaphragms or caps.
4. Diaphragm or cervical cap, a reusable barrier method that is inserted into the vagina and should be used with spermicide. They are estimated to be around 92 to 96% effective.