Norgeston

Norgeston is a progesterone-only oral contraceptive, also known as a mini pill. Norgeston contains 30mcg levonorgestrel which is a man-made hormone that is nearly identical to progesterone, a natural hormone in your body. Norgeston is only available as a prescription-only medicine. Norgeston does not contain oestrogen. Norgeston is less often prescribed and is replaced by the newer desogestrel progesterone-only pill.

Progesterone stops you from getting pregnant in three ways.

1. Preventing an egg from being released from the ovaries.
2. Making the fluid in your cervix thicker, minimising the penetration of sperm.
3. Preventing the lining of your womb from thickening enough to allow an egg to grow in it.

Progesterone-only contraceptives provide one of the most reliable methods of contraception if used correctly, 99% effective. Other benefits include making your periods regular, lighter, and less painful, and it may help with pre-menstrual symptoms such as flushing and mood changes.

Can you get Norgeston over the counter?

No, you cannot get Norgeston over the counter. Norgeston is a prescription-only medication that can be purchased from The Family Chemist privately or by visiting your doctor.

Take Norgeston every day for 35 days. Norgeston comes in strips of 35 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take your pill at the same time every day. Ensure you are never more than three hours late with a pill otherwise, the contraceptive protection may be lost. Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week. Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip. Take one pill each day until you have finished all 35 pills. Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. Do not chew the pill. Then start your next strip. Start your next strip of Norgeston the next day after finishing the previous pack, again taking a pill marked with the day of the week. Always start the new strip on time. You will be taking pills through your periods, and there must be no break between packs. It is common to not get your period when taking Norgeston. This isn’t a cause of concern. As long as you take Norgeston correctly, you will always start each new strip on the same day of the week.

As a new user or starting the Pill again after a break

Take Norgeston every day for 35 days. Norgeston comes in strips of 35 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take your pill at the same time every day. Ensure you are never more than three hours late with a pill otherwise, the contraceptive protection may be lost. Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week. Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip. Take one pill each day until you have finished all 35 pills. Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. Do not chew the pill. Then start your next strip. Start your next strip of Norgeston the next day after finishing the previous pack, again taking a pill marked with the day of the week. Always start the new strip on time. You will be taking pills through your periods, and there must be no break between packs. It is common to not get your period when taking Norgeston. This isn’t a cause of concern. As long as you take Norgeston correctly, you will always start each new strip on the same day of the week.

Starting Norgeston

As a new user or starting the Pill again after a break

If you start taking Norgeston on the 1^st to 5^th day of your menstrual cycle, you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start the pill after the 5^th day of your cycle, you will need additional contraception like condoms until you have taken the pill for seven days.

It is best to take your first Norgeston pill on the first day of your next period. Another method of contraception will not be required.

Changing to Norgeston from another contraceptive Pill

• If you are currently on a combined oral contraceptive, vaginal ring or patch: If you have correctly and consistently used the previous combined Pill, start taking Norgeston the day after your last active pill (discarding the placebo pills or disregarding the pill-free interval). If a vaginal ring or transdermal patch has been used correctly and consistently before the switch, start using Norgeston on the day of removal of the last vaginal ring or transdermal patch of a cycle pack and thereby omit the hormone-free interval of this product. Another method of contraception will not be required.
• Changing from another progestogen-only pill (POP or ‘mini Pill’): you can start taking Norgeston anytime without losing contraceptive protection.
• Changing from a progestogen-only parenteral method (implant, injection): additional non–hormonal contraceptive protection (e.g. a condom) is not required if you start exactly when the next implant or injection is due.

Contraception after having a baby.

If you have just had a baby, your doctor will advise you to start taking Norgeston immediately after delivery. If you start taking Norgeston later than this, you should use another method of contraception, such as a condom, for the first seven days of pill taking. If you have already had intercourse, then you should exclude the possibility of pregnancy before starting Norgeston or wait until you have your first period.

A missed pill
If you are less than 3 hours late with a pill, take it immediately. Keep taking your pills at the usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day. Don’t worry – your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

If you are more than 3 hours late with a pill or have missed more than one pill, your contraceptive protection may be reduced. Continue to take your next pills at your usual time. Use extra contraception for the next 7 days, such as condoms. If you have missed any of the pills in a strip and had intercourse the week before missing the tablets, you may become pregnant. The more consecutive tablets you have missed, the higher the risk that the contraceptive efficacy is decreased.

Many patients take Norgeston free of side effects however, like all medicines, some people may experience some side effects. The severity can vary from person to person.

Side effects such as bleeding between periods or feeling nausea are more common in the first three months. However, they should soon disappear. If the side effects become intolerable, worsen, or continue beyond three months, you should contact your doctor or The Family Chemist clinician.

A rare side effect (1 in 10 in every 10,000 users) can occur in women taking Norgeston: a harmful blood clot in a vein or artery. Seek urgent medical attention if you notice any swelling of one leg, pain or tenderness, increased warmth in the affected leg, change in colour of the skin on the leg, sudden unexplained breathlessness or rapid breathing, sharp chest pain, severe lightheadedness, rapid or irregular heartbeat or severe pain in your stomach. The patient information leaflet contains more information regarding recognising a blood clot.

You are more at risk of having a blood clot:

▪ as you get older
▪ if you smoke
▪ if you are seriously overweight

▪ if you have some diseases of the heart and blood vessels
▪ if you have diabetes
▪ if you suffer from migraines
▪ if you’re off your feet for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness ▪ if you or any of your close family have had blood clots

▪ if you have varicose veins

Common side effects of Norgeston include:

• bleeding and spotting between your periods
• no periods
• allergic reactions, including wheezing, rash or reddened skin. depressive moods, loss of interest in sex
• headaches or migraine
• dizziness
• feeling sick or being sick
• putting on weight or losing weight.

The patient information leaflet contains a full list of side effects.

A few women have irregular periods, a little unexpected bleeding or spotting or no periods at all while they are taking Norgeston, especially during the first few months. Normally, these changes are nothing to worry about and require no treatment. Keep taking Norgeston as usual. The problem should disappear after the first few strips.

You may also have unexpected bleeding if you are not taking your pills regularly, so try to take your pill at the same time every day. Also, unexpected bleeding can sometimes be caused by other medicines.

Make an appointment to see your doctor if:

You get breakthrough bleeding or spotting that:

• carries on for more than the first few months
• starts after you’ve been taking Norgeston for a while
• carries on even after you’ve stopped taking Norgeston.

You have had no period for six weeks.

Most patients can take Norgeston. However, there may be occasions where an alternative pill may suit you better. You must fill in the consultation form accurately so the clinician can make sure your treatment is safe for you.

Do not use Norgeston:

• If you are pregnant or might be pregnant
• If you have ever had a severe liver disease and have been told by your doctor that your liver function test results are not yet back to normal
• If you have ever had liver tumours
• If you have cancer affected by sex hormones –such as current or history of breast cancer If you have vaginal bleeding that has not been explained by your doctor
• If you have ever had a problem with your blood circulation. This includes a blood clot (thrombosis) in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), heart (heart attack), brain (stroke) or any other parts of the body
• If you have severe diabetes with changes to the blood vessels
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in Norgeston.

Progesterone only pill may be more suitable for you if you smoke and are 35 or older, stopped smoking less than a year ago and are 35 or older, are overweight or breastfeeding.