Norgestrel

In recent times, millions of women are taking oral contraceptive pill for birth control Worldwide, because

• Oral contraceptive pill is a modern, tolerable and effective birth control system.
• It is temporary and easily changeable. Any couple can use this pill on a regular basis until they want to have a baby. They can have a baby when they stop using the pill.
• It has some other healthy advantages besides ensuring birth control.

Normally there two types of birth control pills are available. Among them one is combined oral pill in which there are two types of hormone named estrogen and progesterone. Another one is Norgestrel which contains lower amount of progesterone than combined oral contraceptive pill.

For whom Norgestrel is suitable?

• Norgestrel is comparatively better birth control pill for breast feeding mother.
• The women sensitive to estrogen can take Norgestrel.
• Comparatively aged women especially who have high blood pressure, weight gain tendency, history of varicose veins, Norgestrel is advantageous for them.

Advantages of Norgestrel:

• The women who are breast feeding their baby after delivery can use Norgestrel thoughtlessly. Norgestrel does not do any change in the quality and quantity of breast milk.
• Norgestrel can be taken after 6 weeks of delivery.
• As there is no estrogen, so the side effects related to estrogen such as- nausea, headache, acne or weight gain etc. are rarely observed in case of Norgestrel. Besides, the women sensitive to estrogen can take Norgestrel.

Disadvantages related to Norgestrel:

• Normal menstruation can be slightly changed due to Norgestrel such as: spotting or irregular menstruation etc. Besides this, some women may experience mild headache or tenderness of breast. But these are not harmful for health.

How Norgestrel helps in birth control?

• Norgestrel thickens the cervical secretion of uterus so that sperm cannot enter into the uterus.
• Norgestrel inhibits the emission of ovum from ovary.

One pill should be taken regularly at a particular time.

When Norgestrel can be started?

• A breast feeding woman can start Norgestrel after 6 weeks of delivery.
• Non breast feeding women can start Norgestrel followed by delivery.
• In case of other women, Norgestrel should be started within the first 5 days of menstruation.

Direction to take Norgestrel:

• Special concern should be taken in case of using Norgestrel as there is only one hormone, especially for partially breast feeding or non-breast feeding mother.
• One pill should be taken in a particular time regularly.
• New pill should be started in the very next day after finishing the all the pills of the existing packet. There should be no gap between using two packets.

In case of missed dose:

• Use a back-up method of birth control or condom for 2 days if you are more than 3 hours late taking this medicine. Take the next dose at your regular time.
• Risks of getting conceive is increased if 2 consecutive doses are missed. In this case, condom or any other non-hormonal back-up method should be taken instead of taking pill. Norgestrel should be started from the first day of the next menstruation cycle. If menstruation does not occur after 4-6 weeks of stopping pill, then consult with a doctor.

After how many days combined pill can be started?

• Norgestrel is highly effective during the period of breast feeding. But, when the baby can take other foods along with breast milk after completion of 6 months, other low dose pilletter than Norgestrel in that case. Any combined pill can be taken in this case. In this situation, combined pill can control regular menstruation cycle very effectively.

For whom Norgestrel is not suitable?

• Any women having the following condition cannot take Norgestrel. Such as:
• During pregnancy or probability of pregnancy
• Irregular or abnormal menstruation
• Breast cancer
• Inflammation of Liver, Jaundice or any other disease of Liver

Consumption of some medicine like: rifampicin, barbiturates, griseofulvin etc. may reduce the effectiveness of Minicon. If there is any necessity of taking these types of medicine during taking Minicon, consult with doctors.

Remember, like other contraceptive pills, Norgestrel also will not give protection against STD or AIDS.

Oral Contraceptive preparations

Store at controlled room temperature between 20° to 25°C.