Period Delay Prescription Tablets

How to stop your period?

There is no safe way to stop your period permanently. Although there are two main methods to delay your period depending on whether or not you are already taking the contraceptive pill. The main purpose of delaying your period may be when periods come at an inconvenient time, for example during special occasions such as weddings, holidays or during exam time.

Delaying your period if you do not take a contraceptive pill

A medication called norethisterone can help you delay your period for up to 17 days. The medication must be started 3 – 4 days before you expect you period to begin. You take norethisterone three times a day for up to a maximum of 20 days, which will delay your period for 17 days. Your period should return 2 to 3 days after you stop taking the medication. BUT remember norethisterone isn’t a contraceptive when used in this way and you can still get pregnant so, please use another type of contraceptive during sexual intercourse.

Norethisterone comes in a tablet form and is a prescription only medicine and therefore can be sourced from your GP or you can order it through our online service. We will deliver it to your doorstep in 24 hours. This saves you booking a clinic with a GP, and waiting for a prescription at a pharmacy.

Delaying your period by taking 2 packets of the combined pill back to back

Taking 2 packets of the combined contraceptive pill back-to-back can delay your period. This in general terms means skipping the 7-day break when you normally get your period. How you do this depends on the contraceptive pill you take:

Monophasic 21 day pills such as Microgynon and Cilest can be taken straight after you finish the last pill and miss out the 7 days break.
Everday pills such as Microgynon ED and Lorynon ED contain 21 active pill and 7 inactive or dummy pills. Miss out the dummy pills and throw so you don’t take them in the future and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.

Phasic 21 days pills such as Binovium, Qlaira and Logynon contain a different mix of hormones in each pill depending on the phase you’re in. You will need to take these pills in the correct order, so we recommend you consult your GP before you attempt to delay your period.

If you are not sure which pills you take or which pills you should miss feel free to ring The Family Chemist clinician who can provide more advice for free.

If you are taking progesterone only contraceptive pills then you cannot delay your period by taking 2 packets back to back. However, you may be able to use norethisterone to delay your period. Fill in the online consultation and the clinician at The Family Chemist can check for you.

If you are taking other forms of contraception such as IUDs, IUSs contraceptive implants then you can take norethisterone to delay your period as some people may experience spotting even though some forms of contraception stop your period.

What do period delay tablets do?

Period delay tablets come in various brand names. The Family Chemist provides a branded version called Utovlan or generic version called Norethisterone. Norethisterone is a man-made progesterone hormone. Progesterone is a naturally occurring female sex hormone. Progesterone hormone levels increase after ovulation. This happens to prepare the womb for an embryo after fertilisation. If fertilisation does not happen, the progesterone levels decrease. This makes the womb shed its lining as a menstrual period. Norethisterone keeps your hormone level high and prevents shedding of the womb lining.

Can you get period delay tablets on the NHS?

Yes you can however you will need to book an appointment with your GP, talk through your options and be issued with a prescription. The prescription will need to be filled in a pharmacy and yes you will have to pay a prescription charge for the medication. Depending on where you live some GPs may not issue a NHS prescription and charge you for a private prescriptions and the pharmacy will ask for the full price of the tablets.

Can you get period delay tablets over the counter?

No. Norethisterone is a prescription only medicine. Norethisterone is not suitable for some patients such as people with a history of blood clots and therefore a person would need a consultation before the medicines can be issued.

The Family Chemist can provide you period delay tablets by completing a quick and easy virtual questionnaire. It is important to be honest in your questionnaire so the clinician can ensure the safety of yourself.