Norinyl-1

What is Norinyl-1?

Norinyl-1 is a 21-day pill. You should start on the first day of your period for immediate protection and then once a day for the next 21 days.

It’s a combined contraceptive, which means it contains two hormones. These hormones adjust your menstrual cycle in a way that makes it highly unlikely that you’ll become pregnant.

How effective is Norinyl-1?

Norinyl-1 birth control pills are over 99% effective when used perfectly. This basically means that out of 100 women using it over the course of a year, less than one will become pregnant.

If you make the odd mistake with Norinyl-1, that’s called ‘typical’ use. Typical use is judged to be around 91% effective (so 9 in 100 women taking it this way will get pregnant over a year).

How does Norinyl-1 work?

Norinyl-1, like all combined contraceptive pills, works in three ways. It’s these interactions that give the medication its protective effects.

The menstrual cycle is controlled by hormonal levels rising and falling over the course of a month. An egg will only be released from the ovary when levels of these hormones change.

By blocking the midcycle surge of these hormones, Norinyl-1 prevents an egg from being released. With no egg, fertilisation can’t happen. It also thickens the vaginal mucus around the neck of the womb, which prevents the sperm from reaching the womb and fertilising the egg.

It also makes the womb less receptive for an egg to settle there. If the egg can’t settle (implant), it can’t develop.

How to take Norinyl-1

Take one pill a day, at the same time, for 21 days. Then have a seven day break and start the next strip of pills. Each tablet should be swallowed whole with water. It can be taken with or without food.

A strip of Norinyl contains 21 tablets, each of which has the day of the week labelled above it. This allows you to keep track of what you have taken. At the end of the 21 day course, during the seven day break, you’ll likely experience a withdrawal bleed.

When should I start Norinyl-1?

You should take the first pill at the start of your cycle, which is the first day of bleeding on your period. This will mean you’ll be immediately protected against pregnancy. Otherwise, you’ll need to refrain from having sex, or use a barrier contraceptive, for seven days.

If you’ve taken a different combined contraceptive pill the previous day, you should start the course as you would at the beginning of your cycle. Then complete the entire 21 tablet strip, followed by the seven day break.

If you’re switching from another form of contraception such as the mini pill or the patch, you should use extra protection for the first seven days of taking Norinyl-1 to stay protected.

Norinyl-1 and missed pills: what to do

Everyone forgets to take their medication once in a while, so try not to panic. With Norinyl-1 you’ve got 12 hours of leeway. So if you’re less than 12 hours late taking your pill, your protection won’t be reduced.

If it’s more than 12 hours after your scheduled dose time, or if you miss more than one pill, take the most recent pill you missed, as well as the next one at the normal time, even if it means taking two on the same day.

Your protection is reduced if you miss one or more pills, so use a barrier contraceptive for seven days if this happens.