Welcome to the PharmacyDirectGB Period Delay Service
Our Service includes an online doctor consultation and private prescription service, followed by Norethisterone medication, if suitable.
Period Delay Treatment
If suitable, our doctor may be able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period. Our doctor will advise you when to take norethisterone and for how long.
Usually, you take three norethisterone tablets a day, starting three days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive two to three days after stopping the medication.
Important: norethisterone is not a contraceptive and it may not be suitable if you have a history of thrombosis (blood clots in the veins).
If you take the combined oral contraceptive pill
You can delay your period by taking two packets of pills back to back.
If you take a contraceptive pill
Changing how you take your pills can delay your period. This will be different depending on which pill you take. For example:
- With the monophasic 21 day pill you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by seven days without pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the first one, and miss out the seven day break.
- With the every day (ED) pill you take a combined pill every day. The first 21 pills are active pills, and the next seven pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.
- With phasic pills, the mix of hormones in each pill is different depending on which phase you’re in. You need to take these pills in the correct order to provide effective contraception. Ask your GP which ones you can miss out to delay your period.
- If you are taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill every day, your periods may be regular, irregular or may have stopped altogether. Unfortunately, you can’t delay your period by changing how you take these pills.
If you’re unsure which pill you’re on, or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to your GP or pharmacist.