Noriday is a type of contraceptive pill called the 'mini pill'. It is a progesterone-only pill or ‘POP’, meaning it contains only 1 hormone, unlike the combined pill which contains both oestrogen and progesterone hormones.

Noriday contains the active ingredient norethisterone, a man-made version of progesterone.

Noriday is just as effective at preventing pregnancy as combined contraceptive pills (over 99% effective when used correctly) and may be a more suitable contraceptive option for people who cannot use combined pills that contain oestrogen.

Noriday works in 2 main ways to prevent pregnancy:

• it thickens the mucus around the neck of the womb making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg and fertilise it
• it thins the lining of the womb to make it difficult for an egg to attach and grow

Noriday may also stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).

How effective is Noriday?

As long as it is used correctly, Noriday is over 99% effective against becoming pregnant.

It’s likely to be closer to 92% because of user error, like forgetting to take the pill, or not taking the pill at the correct time, or illness such as sickness and diarrhoea. Around 1 in 100 women each year get pregnant while taking the mini pill but if you take it every day at the same time and don’t miss a pill, this is very unlikely.

Research shows that norethisterone can reduce the frequency and amount of vaginal bleeding significantly compared to other mini pills.

Always take Noriday exactly as you have been prescribed.

Noriday is a 3-hour mini pill which means it must be taken within 3 hours of the same time each day to be effective.

1. Take your first Noriday pill on the first day of your period, known as ‘day 1’ of your cycle.
2. Swallow 1 pill daily with water, at the same time each day.
3. Each blister pack is marked with the days of the week to help you remember to take your pills. For example, Monday is marked ‘mon’. You should follow the direction of the arrows on the pack and take a pill every day until the pack is empty.
4. When you have completed the first pack, you will need to start a new pack the very next day. You will have no breaks between packs, and will be taking pills throughout your period, if you have one.

When to take Noriday

You should take Noriday at the same time each day. It is a 3-hour progestogen-only pill which means it must be taken within a 3-hour window. If you are 3 or more hours late taking your Noriday pill, follow the instructions under ‘What should I do if I forget to take Noriday?’.

Pick a time to take Noriday that suits you. For example, you could take it when you brush your teeth in the morning or just before going to bed. It may be helpful to set an alarm to remind you to take your pill, so you don’t miss the 3-hour window.

Ideally, you should start taking Noriday on the first day of your period to be protected straight away.

If you start Noriday after this, you will need to use a condom or a cap and spermicide for the first 7 days.

How often to take Noriday

You should take 1 Noriday pill every day for 28 days with no breaks between packs. You should start the next strip of Noriday the day after you finish the previous one.

How long do you need to take Noriday for?

You will need to take Noriday for as long as you don’t want to become pregnant.

You can stop taking Noriday at any time if you want to have a baby. You will no longer be protected from pregnancy from the day you stop taking Noriday.

What should I do if I forget to take Noriday?

If you miss your Noriday pill, follow these instructions:

• If you are 3 or more hours late taking your pill: Take your pill as soon as you remember and take the next one as usual, even if that means taking 2 pills in the same day. Continue taking your pills as normal but you will need to use condoms for the next 7 days.

Noriday is a prescription-only medication, so you will need a doctor's approval to obtain it.

You can request Noriday online from reputable online services like Superdrug Online Doctor. You can also get Noriday on the NHS.

Can I buy Noriday online?

Yes, you can request Noriday from Superdrug Online Doctor. Our online service is fast, effective, and easy to use. All our orders are sent in unmarked packaging. To order, simply:

1. Complete a short online health and lifestyle questionnaire.
2. Order your preferred treatment and make payment.
3. One of our registered doctors will review your answers and make sure it is safe and appropriate for you to take Noriday.
4. Once approved, the medication will be sent to an address of your choice in the post, or you can pick it up from a local Superdrug Pharmacy.
5. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you through your account with other suitable suggestions.

Can I buy Noriday over the counter?

No, because Noriday is a prescription-only medication you will need a doctor's approval to obtain it.

If you would prefer an over-the-counter mini pill alternative, Superdrug Online Doctor offers Hana, which can also be bought in pharmacies without a prescription.

Can I get Noriday on the NHS

• You may be able to obtain Noriday on the NHS but you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to find out if it is suitable for you.

As with all medications, there is a risk of experiencing side effects when you take Noriday, although not everyone will get them.

Compared to the combined pill, there are fewer reported side effects in women who take Noriday.

You should stop taking Noriday and get medical help immediately if you experience any of the following:

• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• severe or sudden chest pain
• severe, long, or unusual headache
• shortness of breath
• difficulty speaking
• vision problems
• fainting or collapse
• numbness or weakness in any part of your body
• severe pain in one of the calves in your legs

Other Noriday side effects include:

• stomach upset
• sore or swollen breasts
• weight changes
• headaches
• migraines
• changes to your sex drive
• changes to your appetite
• feeling tired
• gallstones
• skin rashes
• anxiety or nervousness
• depression
• irregular periods
• high blood pressure
• liver disorders

How long do Noriday side effects last?

Side effects from Noriday usually stop or settle down after the first few months of taking it as your body gets used to the hormonal changes.

What should I do if I get Noriday side effects?

You may be able to treat mild side effects like headaches or stomach pain with over-the-counter medications like painkillers until they go away on their own.

If you experience any side effects that you find difficult to manage, you should contact your doctor for advice.

Do not take Noriday if you:

• are allergic to norethisterone or any other ingredients in the pill
• are pregnant or think you may be
• have or had any cancer that is hormone-dependent such as womb, vaginal, cervical, or breast
• have or have had severe or acute chronic liver disease, including tumours or jaundice
• had itching of the whole body (pruritus) or jaundice during pregnancy
• cannot metabolise fat properly
• experience unexplained vaginal bleeding
• have never had a period or do not get periods (amenorrhoea)
• have inflamed veins (thrombophlebitis)
• have or have ever had a blood clot
• have heart disease
• have had a stroke

Before taking Noriday, let your doctor know if you have experienced any of the following:

• epilepsy
• multiple sclerosis
• porphyria (a rare inherited blood disease)
• tetany (muscle twitches)
• otosclerosis (an inherited form of deafness which sometimes gets worse during pregnancy)
• diabetes, or a family history of diabetes
• gallstones
• impaired carbohydrate tolerance
• migraine headaches any heart or kidney problems
• depression
• liver disease
• varicose veins
• high blood pressure
• asthma

You should also let your doctor know if you are currently taking any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications as these may interact with the effectiveness of Noriday.

Noriday and pregnancy

Do not take Noriday if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

If you become pregnant while taking Noriday, you should contact your doctor immediately. There is an increased risk of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy that develops outside the womb) when taking Noriday.

Noriday and breastfeeding

Noriday should be avoided during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Your midwife, pharmacist, or doctor can let you know when it’s safe to take Noriday and what alternative contraception methods are available if you need them.

Noriday may not be suitable for everyone, but there are many different contraceptive options available to prevent pregnancy. Some can also improve other hormone-related symptoms such as acne, heavy periods, and premenstrual symptoms (PMS).

Depending on your preference and needs, you can choose hormonal or non-hormonal contraceptives.

Hormonal contraception

Hormonal contraception contains synthetic versions of female sex hormones to regulate the menstrual cycle and prevent pregnancy. Some are combined methods and contain both man-made oestrogen and progesterone while others only contain oestrogen.

To prevent pregnancy they make changes to the body to make it more difficult for pregnancy to occur.

Here are some of the hormonal contraceptive options available:

Mini pills

Mini pills only contain progesterone so may be more suitable for people who can’t take oestrogen. Some of the mini pills that can be requested from Superdrug Online Doctor include:

• Cerelle
• Cerazette
• Hana
• Desomono
• Norgeston

Combined pills

Combined oral contraceptive pills are more commonly known as ‘the pill’. They contain man-made versions of both oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy, usually by stopping ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, and thinning the womb lining.

Some of the combined pills we offer include:

• Microgynon 30
• Yasmin
• Gedarel
• Brevinor
• Lizinna
• Mercilon
• Millinette
• Qlaira

Other hormonal options include:

• Vaginal ring: At Superdrug Online Doctor we offer NuvaRing. It is a small plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina and releases oestrogen and progesterone over 3 weeks. You can insert the ring yourself.
• Intrauterine system (IUS): The hormonal coil is a small plastic device that is inserted into your womb by a doctor or nurse that releases progesterone to prevent pregnancy.
• Contraceptive implant: The implant is a small plastic rod that is inserted under the skin of your arm and releases progesterone into your bloodstream.
• Contraceptive injection: A progesterone-only injection that is given by a doctor or nurse every 8 to 13 weeks.

Non-hormonal contraception

This type of contraception does not contain hormones. Instead, it may work by creating a barrier between sperm and the womb or by releasing other substances like copper to prevent pregnancy. Some examples include:

• condoms (male and female)
• copper intrauterine device (IUD)diaphragms

Does Noriday make you lose weight?

There is no evidence that taking Noriday causes weight loss. Some women have reported that they have lost weight whilst taking the progestogen-only pill but weight loss could be attributed to other factors, such as appetite changes.

Do you get periods on Noriday?

Many people will still get periods whilst taking Noriday. However, some may experience irregular periods, spotting between periods, or no periods at all.

Is Noriday the same as Micronor?

Noriday contains the same active ingredient as Micronor, but Micronor has been discontinued, so Noriday is offered as an alternative.

Does Noriday cause depression?

One of the side effects of Noriday is a feeling of depression. If you experience mood changes or depression while taking Noriday, contact your doctor as soon as possible.