What Is Heather 28 Day? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026

Heather 28 Day is a birth control pill — but it's a specific type that many people aren't familiar with: the progestin-only pill, often called the "mini-pill." If you've been prescribed Heather or are considering it, here's everything you need to know.

What Is Heather 28 Day?

Heather 28 Day is a brand-name oral contraceptive containing norethindrone 0.35 mg as its only active ingredient. It is manufactured by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and comes in 28-tablet blister packs — all 28 tablets are active (there are no placebo or "reminder" pills). You take one pill every single day with no break between packs.

Unlike the more common combination birth control pills (which contain both an estrogen and a progestin), Heather 28 Day contains only a progestin hormone. This is why it's called a progestin-only pill (POP), or mini-pill — the dose of progestin is lower than in most combination pills, and there is no estrogen.

What Is Heather 28 Day Used For?

Heather 28 Day has several FDA-approved uses:

• Contraception (birth control): This is the primary use. With perfect use, the failure rate is 0.5% per year (1 in 200 users). With typical use, the failure rate is approximately 5% per year (1 in 20 users).
• Menstrual disorders: In higher doses, norethindrone is prescribed for abnormal uterine bleeding, secondary amenorrhea (missed periods), and other menstrual irregularities.
• Endometriosis: Higher-dose norethindrone (norethindrone acetate 5 mg, a related compound, brand name Aygestin) is approved for endometriosis treatment. The 0.35 mg dose in Heather is specifically for contraception.

Who Should Take the Mini-Pill?

Heather 28 Day is often recommended for people who cannot or prefer not to take estrogen, including:

• People who are breastfeeding (norethindrone is safe during breastfeeding)
• Smokers over the age of 35 (estrogen increases cardiovascular risk in this group)
• People with a history of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack
• People with migraines with aura (estrogen increases stroke risk in this group)
• People with high blood pressure, diabetes with vascular complications, or certain other cardiovascular conditions
• People who experience estrogen-related side effects on combination pills (nausea, breast tenderness, mood changes)

How to Take Heather 28 Day

This is where the mini-pill differs from other birth control pills in a very important way:

• Take one pill every day at the exact same time. "Same time" means within a 3-hour window — if you take your pill more than 3 hours late, use backup contraception for 48 hours.
• All 28 tablets are active — there are no placebo pills.
• When you finish one pack, start the next pack the very next day — no break.
• You can take it with or without food. If nausea is an issue, try taking it with food or at bedtime.
• If you vomit within a few hours of taking your pill, use backup contraception for 48 hours.

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When to Start Heather 28 Day

The best time to start is on the first day of your menstrual period — this provides immediate contraceptive protection. If you start on any other day, use backup contraception for the first 48 hours. After a miscarriage or abortion, you can start the next day. If you are breastfeeding, the recommended start times are: 6 weeks postpartum if fully breastfeeding, or 3 weeks postpartum if partially breastfeeding.

How Effective Is Heather 28 Day?

With perfect use (one pill every day at the exact same time), norethindrone 0.35 mg has a 99.5% effectiveness rate — 0.5% of perfect users will become pregnant in the first year. With typical use (accounting for late or missed pills), the rate drops to approximately 95% effectiveness (5% failure rate per year). This is slightly less effective than combination pills due to the narrower timing window.

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What Heather 28 Day Does NOT Do

Heather 28 Day does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. It is not emergency contraception and should not be used as such. It is not approved to treat or reduce acne (unlike some combination pills).

The Bottom Line

Heather 28 Day is a highly effective estrogen-free oral contraceptive that's especially well-suited for patients who cannot take estrogen. The key to its effectiveness is strict daily timing. To understand exactly how it works in your body, see our guide on how Heather 28 Day works.