Norimin pill
"A combined contraceptive pill that’s highly effective in preventing pregnancy. It contains ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and norethisterone (progesterone). You’ll need an annual blood pressure and weight check to take it."
What is Norimin?
Norimin is a combined contraceptive pill that contains ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and norethisterone (progesterone). It's 99% effective when you take it correctly.
How does it work?
With its combination of hormones, the Norimin birth control pill works to:
- Stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
- Thicken the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
- Thin the lining of the womb, so an egg is less likely to implant itself.
How to take Norimin
Most women choose to take one daily Norimin pill for 21 days, with a 4 or 7 day break before they start the next pack. You’re likely to have a withdrawal bleed during this break. However, there are other ways to take Norimin.
- Continuous use is taking one Norimin contraceptive pill daily without a break.
- Tricycling is where you take a daily pill for 9 weeks without a break (three packs of pills). After these 9 weeks you take a 4 or 7 day break, then start the cycle again.
- Flexible extended use means taking one pill daily for at least 21 days. If you experience heavier bleeds and would rather have a shorter bleed window, you can take a 4-day break instead of 7. On day 5 start taking the pill daily again, and continue for at least 21 days without another break.
Our clinicians will advise you on the best way to take this pill.
Effectiveness
If taken correctly, Norimin is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. In cases where it’s not taken exactly as prescribed, it can lead to pregnancy for around 9 out of 100 women. So it’s important to follow advice and instructions.
If you’re vomiting or have severe diarrhoea while taking this pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. If you can have sex, use condoms along with continuing to take the pill as usual. If the vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, follow the same steps as you would for a missed pill.
Important: you should only start taking the Norimin combined pill if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Norimin
As with all medications, some women may experience side effects when taking Norimin. These can include headaches, feeling sick, sore breasts, irregular bleeding, and mood swings.
This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women will develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Norimin patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
99% effective when you take it as prescribed
Contains oestrogen and progesterone
You take it for 21 days followed by a 7-day break
What is Norimin?
Norimin is a combined contraceptive pill that contains ethinylestradiol (oestrogen) and norethisterone (progesterone). It's 99% effective when you take it correctly.
How does it work?
With its combination of hormones, the Norimin birth control pill works to:
- Stop your ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation).
- Thicken the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to reach an egg.
- Thin the lining of the womb, so an egg is less likely to implant itself.
How to take Norimin
Most women choose to take one daily Norimin pill for 21 days, with a 4 or 7 day break before they start the next pack. You’re likely to have a withdrawal bleed during this break. However, there are other ways to take Norimin.
- Continuous use is taking one Norimin contraceptive pill daily without a break.
- Tricycling is where you take a daily pill for 9 weeks without a break (three packs of pills). After these 9 weeks you take a 4 or 7 day break, then start the cycle again.
- Flexible extended use means taking one pill daily for at least 21 days. If you experience heavier bleeds and would rather have a shorter bleed window, you can take a 4-day break instead of 7. On day 5 start taking the pill daily again, and continue for at least 21 days without another break.
Our clinicians will advise you on the best way to take this pill.
Effectiveness
If taken correctly, Norimin is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. In cases where it’s not taken exactly as prescribed, it can lead to pregnancy for around 9 out of 100 women. So it’s important to follow advice and instructions.
If you’re vomiting or have severe diarrhoea while taking this pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. If you can have sex, use condoms along with continuing to take the pill as usual. If the vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, follow the same steps as you would for a missed pill.
Important: you should only start taking the Norimin combined pill if you’re certain you aren’t pregnant.
Side effects of Norimin
As with all medications, some women may experience side effects when taking Norimin. These can include headaches, feeling sick, sore breasts, irregular bleeding, and mood swings.
This pill carries a slightly higher risk of blood clots than others. In rare cases some women will develop them.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the Norimin patient information leaflet. And if you’re worried about side effects, including blood clots, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Select a medication and complete our simple, confidential online consultation
A clinician will review your answers and, if suitable, prescribe treatment
Choose next-day delivery, or click & collect from your local pharmacy
Norimin pill FAQs
-
How long does Norimin take to work?
If you start taking Norimin on days 1-5 of your period, this should give you immediate protection against pregnancy.
However, if you start Norimin after day one and you have a short or irregular menstrual cycle, you’ll need to use extra contraception for 7 days if you have sex. For example, condoms or cervical cap with spermicide. We’ll advise you on this during your online consultation.
-
Does Norimin stop periods?
When taking Norimin, your periods may become irregular and you may notice some bleeding between periods. This usually settles in the first few months. Your periods could get lighter and there might occasionally be no bleeding at all during the tablet free days. It’s a good idea to note what’s happening with your cycle.
-
Who can take Norimin?
You should talk to your clinician about alternative birth control options and not take Norimin if:
- You’re pregnant or suspect you might be.
- You’re allergic to norethisterone, ethinylestradiol or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. You have, or have ever had, a blood clot in a blood vessel of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT), your lungs (pulmonary embolus, PE) or other organs.
- You have a blood clotting disorder.
- You have, or have ever had, a heart attack or stroke.
- You have very high blood pressure.
There are other instances where the pill is not suitable, and our clinicians can advise on this during your online consultation.
-
Can I take Norimin while breastfeeding?
During the first six weeks breastfeeding after birth, Norimin can reduce milk supply and may also put you at greater risk of blood clots.
One of our clinicians can prescribe alternatives from our wide range of contraceptives.
Remember that breastfeeding might not stop you getting pregnant.
-
What if I miss my Norimin pill?
If you miss one pill at any point in your pack or start a new pack 1 day late, you’re still protected from pregnancy.
Here’s what to do:
- Take the missed pill as soon as possible, even if it means taking 2 pills on the same day.
- Continue taking the remaining pills at your regular schedule.
- If you normally have a pill-free break, stick to your usual timing.
If you’ve missed two or more pills (over 48 hours late), your contraceptive protection may be reduced.
Follow these steps:
- Take the most recent missed pill right away, even if it means taking 2 pills in one day.
- Skip any other earlier missed pills.
- Use additional contraception, like condoms, for the next 7 days.
- Continue with your pack as normal.
- You may need emergency contraception if you have had unprotected sex after missing pills.
When you finish the pack after missing pills:
- If there are 7+ pills left in your pack: Finish the pack as usual and take your 7-day pill-free break as planned.
- If fewer than 7 pills are left in your pack: Skip the pill-free break and start a new pack immediately.
You may need emergency contraception if:
- You’ve had unprotected sex after missing pills.
- You had unprotected sex in the 7 days before the missed pills.
Our clinicians can prescribe emergency contraception, if it’s safe to do so. For full details of correct use and what to do if you miss a pill, please see the Norimin patient information leaflet. If you need more advice you can contact us in your Patient Record.
-
Where can I buy Norimin?
As this pill is prescription only, you’ll need to complete an online consultation for a clinician to review before you can buy the treatment, even if you’re using an online service.
We can prescribe Norimin for you online, for discreet home delivery or to pick up from your nearest Well Pharmacy. To make sure it’s safe for you, we'll ask you a few questions including your height, weight and blood pressure.
Start an online consultation and our clinicians will review your answers. It’s completely confidential and only takes a few minutes.
-
What to do if I get Norimin side effects
You should talk to your doctor if you get any side effects that you think are from taking Norimin, particularly if they’re severe and persistent. You can also message our clinical team in your Patient Record.
-
Norimin warnings
Combined contraceptives can raise your blood pressure, which could be dangerous. So, it’s important to check your blood pressure before starting the treatment, then once a year after that.
As part of your consultation, we’ll ask you if you’ve had your blood pressure checked recently, or checked it yourself at home using a blood pressure monitor. This information is required before we can prescribe combined contraceptives like Norimin.
Norimin won’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia or HIV. Only condoms can help with this.
-
Norimin drug interactions
You should be able to take Norimin alongside other medications. So that our clinicians can prescribe it safely, you’ll need to let us know which prescription, over-the-counter medicines and recreational drugs you’re taking regularly.
-
Alternative Norimin contraception
A combination pill like Norimin is just one of a wide range of contraceptives we can advise you on and prescribe. These include NuvaRing, Evra Patch, the contraceptive injection, combined pills and progestogen only pills.
See our full contraception range here.
You can also get long-acting contraceptives through your GP or family planning clinic. These include the coil, implants, and contraceptive injections.
