Noriday is an oral contraceptive pill. It’s known as the mini pill as it only contains one active ingredient, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone (norethisterone).

Unlike combined contraceptive pills, it doesn't contain oestrogen. This can make it a good alternative for people who experience side effects from or cannot take the combined pill.

Visit our contraceptive pill service page.

Noriday is a progesterone only contraceptive pill used to help prevent pregnancy.

Noriday contains 350mcg of norethisterone, which is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone progesterone. Norethisterone works with your hormone system to prevent pregnancy in two ways: makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg; and discourages eggs from implanting in the womb.

For Noriday to be effective, you take it every day without any breaks. Tablets must be taken every day at about the same time so that the interval between two tablets always is 24 hours.

It comes in strips of 28 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take one pill every day, at the same time each day, without any breaks, even through your period.

When you finish one 28 day strip, start the next one the following day.

For the first seven days of the very first pack you take you'll need to use extra protection (such as a condom) or avoid sex.

Each tablet contains 350 micrograms norethisterone taken daily.

When taken correctly, it’s very effective at protecting you from pregnancy.

Be careful! If you miss a pill or experience any vomiting or diarrhoea sickness while taking the pill, you may no longer be protected and should use another form of contraception like condoms as well.

Find out more about what to do if you miss a pill here.

It’s normal to experience some side effects when you start taking the contraceptive pill. These should wear off as your body adjusts to the new hormone balance.

Some common side effects include: headaches, irregular periods, nausea and stomach ache, skin reactions such as acne, breast tenderness, reduced libido and mood changes.

If these don’t improve after three months, let us know. We may suggest you try an alternative contraceptive pill.

For full side effects and further information on Noriday, read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your oral contraceptive pill.

Noriday should not be taken during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Noriday, stop taking it straight away.

Noriday may be used while breastfeeding.

Make sure to give us details of all other medicines you’re taking (including those prescribed, bought over the counter and supplements) during your consultation so we can prescribe Noriday if suitable for you.

You must declare your full medical history so we can ensure this contraceptive pill is prescribed safely. In contrast to the combined oral contraceptive pill, Noriday may be more suitable for certain groups of people, for example women aged over 40 years, smokers and women with a BMI of 35 or over.

There are many contraceptive pill options. Some may suit you and your body better than others. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss alternative contraceptive pills to Noriday.

Find out more about oral contraceptive pills.

There are other, long acting forms of contraception you may also want to consider, such as implants, coils (hormonal or copper) or injections. If you’re interested in finding out more about these, please talk to your GP or local sexual health clinic.

There are several barrier methods of contraception available to help prevent pregnancy, such as male or female condoms, or diaphragms. Barrier methods aim to block sperm and therefore prevent it from reaching and fertilising an egg. You can discuss these options with your regular GP and get condoms from your local sexual health centre or pharmacy.

While taking Noriday, you may have less frequent or less regular periods, or you may stop having them completely.

If you experience vaginal bleeding after sex or a significant change to your bleeding, for example if periods become much heavier or more painful, and it doesn’t settle within six weeks, please contact us or speak to your GP for advice.

Some women have reported mood changes as one of the side effects of taking Noriday. These should settle down within a few months. If you have ongoing issues with your mood or find it is severely impacting you, please let us know as we may be able to suggest a different pill.

You can buy Noriday online once you have a prescription. At Boots Online Doctor we can prescribe Noriday if suitable for you. You can then collect from your local Boots pharmacy or we can deliver it straight to your door in discreet packaging in as little as two days.

You don’t need to wait to get an appointment or speak to anyone directly. All you need to do is fill out our quick online questionnaire – simple as that.

Find out more about our contraceptive pill service.