If you're on the progestin-only pill, also called the mini-pill, you already know that timing is everything. Miss your 3-hour window, and you're no longer protected. Most pill reminder apps don't actually understand this. Estroclic does.
Why the Mini-Pill Needs Its Own App Logic
The progestin-only pill is fundamentally different from the combined pill in one critical way: the protection window is much shorter.
For most mini-pill brands, including Norgeston and Noriday, if you take your pill more than 3 hours late, you are no longer protected and need to use backup contraception for 48 hours.
For desogestrel-based brands like Cerazette and Cerelle, the window extends to 12 hours, but you still need to know exactly when that window closes.
| Pill type | Brands | Protection window |
|---|---|---|
| Progestogen-only (standard) | Noriday, Norgeston, Micronor | 3 hours |
| Desogestrel (POP) | Cerazette, Cerelle, Zelleta | 12 hours |
The problem with most reminder apps is that they treat all pills the same. They fire one notification and move on. If you dismiss it and forget, there's no second chance, and no indication of whether you're still within your window.
What Estroclic Does Differently
Estroclic is built specifically for contraceptive pill users, and it handles the progestin-only pill properly.
Real-time protection window on your home screen
Every time you open Estroclic, you see your reminder time, your pill-taking record, and a countdown display based on your brand's timing window. For Cerazette users, that's a 12-hour countdown. For other mini-pills, it's 3 hours. Select your brand during setup and the app records your schedule against the right window. For guidance on a late or missed pill, the Safety Hub links to the official patient information leaflet for your specific brand.
Triple-layer reminders
When your reminder fires, Estroclic doesn't stop there. If you haven't logged your pill, a backup notification fires 30 minutes later. Then another at 60 minutes. Three chances to catch it before you're at risk, on active days only. For mini-pill users, that means every single day.
Brand-specific support
Select your brand during setup — Cerazette, Cerelle, Noriday, Norgeston, Zelleta, and 35+ others — and Estroclic records your pill times against that brand's timing window. The Safety Hub links to the official patient information leaflet for your specific brand, so you have brand-specific guidance at hand when you need it.
Absorption event tracking
The mini-pill is especially sensitive to anything that affects absorption. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking your pill, or have severe diarrhoea, your protection may be compromised. Estroclic's Absorption Log lets you record these events with the time elapsed since your last pill, so you have an accurate record of any at-risk periods.
What About Cerazette Specifically?
Cerazette (desogestrel 75 mcg) is one of the most widely prescribed mini-pills in the UK and across Europe. Its 12-hour window makes it more forgiving than older progestin-only brands, but it still requires consistent daily use.
Estroclic supports Cerazette directly. Search for it during profile setup, and the app displays your protection window based on the 12-hour rule, not the 3-hour rule used for other mini-pills. The Safety Hub also links to the official eMC patient information leaflet for Cerazette, so you can check brand-specific guidance in seconds.
The Free Version Is Enough to Start
Free
- Triple-layer reminders
- Real-time protection window
- 40+ pill brands supported
- Colour-coded calendar
- Offline logging with sync
Premium
- Adherence analytics
- Time-of-day distribution chart
- Absorption event logging
- PDF health report
- Full calendar history
A 7-day Premium trial is included when you download the app, no payment details required upfront.
Available on Android
Built for the mini-pill. Free to start.
Download Estroclic and see your protection window in real time, from your first day on the app. Your exact brand, your exact window, no calculations needed.
Download on Google PlayThe Bottom Line
If you're on the progestin-only pill and you've been using a generic reminder app or relying on a phone alarm, Estroclic was built for exactly your situation. The brand-specific timing countdown and accurate pill-taking record are central to Estroclic's design: a dedicated log of when your pill was taken and how much time has elapsed, matched to your specific brand's timing window.
Quick summary
- Most reminder apps treat all pills the same. Estroclic doesn't.
- Brand-specific timing countdown and accurate pill-taking record
- Triple reminders at 0, 30, and 60 minutes, every active day
- Cerazette and all major mini-pill brands supported
- Free tier covers everything you need to stay protected