Nor-QD Birth Control Pills

Table of Contents

• What are Nor-QD Birth Control Pills?
• What are the Advantages of Nor-QD Birth Control Pills?
• Information about Nor-QD Dosage
• How do Nor-QD Birth Control Pills Work?
• Nor-QD Side Effects and Disadvantages
• Nor-QD Birth Control Reviews

What Are Nor-QD Birth Control Pills?

Nor-QD birth control pills are progestin-only pills (POPs) used to prevent pregnancy. These pills contain norethindrone, a type of progestin. Because these pills do not contain any estrogen, they are also referred to as the “mini-pill”.

While Nor-QD prevents pregnancy, it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDs. As such, it’s important to use barrier methods of contraception such as the condom or the female condom to avoid such infections.

What are the Advantages of Nor-QD Birth Control Pills?

As a progestin-only birth control pill, Nor-QD is a good alternative for women who cannot use estrogen. Because it has a lower dose of hormones, this pill is also a more suitable option for those who are concerned about high doses of hormones. Reasons for these include women who have had a history of:

• Blood clots
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Breast cancer¹
• Migraines

Progestin-only birth control pill brands like Nor-QD are also often prescribed to breastfeeding mothers who prefer the pill over other birth control options. According to an article by Self.com, estrogen can interfere with milk production. However, progestin does not, thereby making POPs a safer alternative.

In addition to this, according to the Nor-QD package insert, diabetic women don’t generally require changes in the amount of insulin they take. According to Diabetes.co.uk, this is because progestin-only pills don’t cause changes in blood glucose control.

Furthermore, unlike combination birth control pills, Nor-QD does not give you a higher risk for blood clots. While this means it’s less risky for women who are over 35 and smoke, it does not eliminate the risk of heart attack and stroke entirely. With that said, it’s still advisable not to smoke while on this pill.

Information About Nor-QD Dosage

Nor-QD birth control pills contain 0.35mg of the progestin norethindrone and no estrogen. Thus, in order to effectively prevent pregnancy, the Nor-QD dosage is one pill every day.

It’s imperative to take these pills at the same time every day else the Nor-QD effectiveness can be diminished. This means that if you are late in taking the pill or miss it entirely, your risk of getting pregnant increases.

Unlike combination birth control pills, there are no breaks between packs. This is because “changes in cervical mucus are time-dependent,” as noted in Roberto de Melo’s article. As such, “conditions for sperm penetration may return to pretreatment levels within 24-27 hours of taking traditional POPs” like Nor-QD.

How Do Nor-QD Birth Control Pills Work?

Nor-QD birth control pills primarily work by making the cervical mucus thicker. This makes it difficult for sperm to reach the egg.

These pills can also prevent ovulation from occurring. However, unlike combination birth control pills, this progestin-only pill only prevents ovulation about half the time.

With this in mind, the Nor-QD effectiveness rate is slightly lower than combination birth control pills. For a better idea, with perfect use in the first year of taking Nor-QD, less than 1 woman out of 100 will get pregnant. This makes Nor-QD over 99% effective in theory.

However, with typical use, it’s more likely that around 1 in 20 (5%) women will become pregnant in the first year of use. This is why it’s important to take the pill on time or to not miss it as doing so can drastically reduce its effectiveness.

Nor-QD Side Effects and Disadvantages

Like other pills, you may experience some side effects with Nor-QD. Some of the more common Nor-QD side effects include:

• Irregular bleeding
• Spotting

Some less common Nor-QD side effects include:

• Headache
• Breast tenderness
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Acne
• Weight gain

Taking Nor-QD birth control pills does come with a few risks as well. However, these risks are very low. They include:

• Ectopic pregnancy
• Ovarian cysts
• Breast cancer
• Cancer of the reproductive organs
• Hepatic neoplasia

Furthermore, Nor-QD isn’t right for everyone. According to the package insert, women with the following should not use this pill:

• A suspected or known pregnancy
• Breast cancer
• Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding
• Benign or malignant tumors in the liver
• Acute liver disease

Nor-QD Birth Control Reviews

On WebMD, Nor-QD has four out of five stars for effectiveness and ease of use. However, it only received two out of four stars for overall user satisfaction.

Among the Nor-QD birth control reviews, a majority of users have complained about experiencing irregular periods while taking this pill. However, those users who cannot use estrogen are satisfied overall with Nor-QD. Some even experienced little to no side effects.

Keep in mind that while some users have positive experiences and others negative, your experience with this pill will be unique to you. So, always talk to your doctor about the best birth control option for you and be sure to discuss any concerns before making a decision.