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Nora-Be Birth Control Pills

Nora-Be birth control

Table of Contents

What Are Nora-Be Birth Control Pills?

Nora-Be birth control pills are progestin-only pills. They contain 0.35mg of the progestin norethindrone. And because they contain no estrogen, these pills are also referred to as the “mini-pill”.

These pills are primarily used to prevent pregnancy; however, they may also provide other benefits. Note that Nora-Be birth control pills do not prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, herpes, etc. As such, it’s important to always use a condom or a female condom to limit your chances of contracting an STI.

How do Nora-Be Birth Control Pills Work?

As a progestin-only pill, Nora-Be primarily works by thickening the cervical mucus. This hinders sperm penetration, preventing it from reaching the egg1. It also changes the lining of the uterus to make it more difficult for a fertilized egg (should it occur) to attach2.

Unlike combination birth control pills which suppress ovulation (the release of an egg), Nora-Be birth control pills only suppress it in half of the users3.

Nora-Be Effectiveness and Nora-Be Failure Rate

Because this pill does not contain any estrogen, the Nora-Be effectiveness rate and Nora-Be failure rate are slightly different than combination pills.

When used perfectly, around 1 in 200 women will get pregnant in a year. This makes the Nora-Be failure rate (with perfect use) around 0.5%. However, with typical use, around 1 in 20 (5%) women can get pregnant in the first year of use. This lowers the Nora-Be effectiveness rate to around 95%.

Nora-Be Dosage Information

Nora-Be dosage

In regards to the Nora-Be dosage, each pack comes with a total of 28 active pills. You are to take one pill every day at the same time. If you are late in taking the pill or miss it, your chances of getting pregnant drastically increase. Should this happen, be sure to use backup non-hormonal contraception for up to one week after the missed dosage.

Unlike combination birth control pills, there are no breaks between packs. This means that there are no Nora-Be placebo week pills. Thus, once you have finished a pack, you must begin a new pack the next day.

Nora-Be Advantages

The key advantage to using progestin-only pills like Nora-Be is that they’re ideal for women who cannot take estrogen. This could be for a number of reasons such as having a history of:

  • Breast cancer
  • Cirrhosis
  • Blood clots
  • Deep vein thrombosis.

Estrogen-containing birth control options are not advisable for those who are prone to migraine headaches with aura, cardiovascular disease, 35 years or older, and smokers. Estrogen is also not advisable for women who have hypertension.

Women who have these conditions cannot take estrogen. However, none of these conditions are considered contraindications to prescription-only birth control pills4. As such, Nora-Be is the safer alternative to combination-oral contraceptives.

Nora-Be and Breastfeeding

Nora-Be and breastfeeding

Some studies have suggested that contraceptives containing estrogen may interfere with lactation or have negative effects on the infant’s development5. However, others have found no negative downsides in breastfeeding mothers taking estrogen-based birth control pills6.

Regardless, doctors will usually prescribe the progestin-only pill to breastfeeding mothers opting for the oral contraceptive pill. This is because studies have found that progestin-only pills have far fewer effects on milk production and do not adversely affect infant growth7. Furthermore, another study found that very low amounts of hormones from the mini-pill are transferred into breast milk8.

Thus, in regards to Nora-Be and breastfeeding, this medication may be used by breastfeeding mothers upon doctor-recommendation.

Nora-Be Side Effects and Disadvantages

Nora-Be side effects

Every birth control method has side effects and disadvantages. Nora-Be birth control pills are no exception.

While this brand is better for those who cannot take contraceptives that contain estrogen, Nora-Be is still not right for everyone.

You should avoid Nora-Be if you:

  • May be pregnant
  • Currently have breast cancer
  • Have undiagnosed bleeding between your periods
  • Are taking certain drugs for epilepsy or TB
  • Have allergies or are hypersensitive to any component of this medication
  • Have benign or cancerous tumors in the liver
  • Have acute liver disease

Additionally, every person taking Nora-Be may have a different experience. Some may experience little to no side effects, while others may experience a lot of side effects. A few common Nora-Be side effects include:

  • Frequent or irregular bleeding
  • Menstrual changes
  • Breast tenderness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Water retention
  • Headache

Furthermore, these Nora-Be side effects are less common but can be serious. If you happen to experience them or suspect having any of these conditions, be sure to seek medical help right away:

  • Depression
  • High blood pressure
  • Blood clots
  • Life-threatening allergic reaction

Rare Nora-Be side effects that aren’t life-threatening include:

  • Acne
  • Weight gain
  • Extra hair growth on face and body

Taking Nora-Be birth control pills also increase your risk for certain serious health-related conditions. These include:

  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer of the reproductive organs
  • Liver tumors

Do Nora-Be Birth Control Pills Cause Weight Gain?

It is a possible side effect of taking Nora-Be birth control pills to experience weight gain but it’s not common and not a life-threatening by-product of taking the medicine.

Based on some reviews of women who have taken this birth control pill, they mentioned they did not experience any weight gain while taking this product.

However, not every woman will respond the same to this medication. If you have concerns about weight gain while on this medication, speak to your health care professional for more information.

Does Nora-Be Cause Spotting or Irregular Periods?

While taking this birth control pill, you may experience lighter/heavier than usual periods that are irregular. Additionally, between periods, you may have vaginal bleeding (spotting).

If this happens do not stop taking your pills. However, if you’re concerned, be sure to consult with your doctor.

Some women who do not have a regular period for months at a time may also take this birth control pill. This is because Nora-Be birth control pills may actually help in regulating one’s menstrual cycle.

Nora-Be Reviews

Nora-Be reviews

On Drugs.com, out of 99 reviews, Nora-Be has a 2.5 star-rating, or 4.9/10.

Common complaints include irregular and heavy bleeding, headaches, and breast tenderness. However, some women did have positive experiences as well. Some users took Nora-Be for abnormal uterine bleeding and had positive results for their condition.

While Nora-Be reviews lean more toward the negative side, it’s important to remember that everyone has a different experience with birth control. If Nora-Be isn’t right for you, be sure to learn more about other birth control options too!

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