How to Delay Your Period

Is there a holiday or a big event coming up that you’d rather not have your period during? Many women find themselves in this situation. The good news is that there are ways to safely delay your period, giving you more control over your menstrual cycle.

While our bodies have their own natural rhythms, there are now period delay medications for those times when we need a little more flexibility, allowing you to enjoy your plans without worry.

Is it safe to delay my period?

Generally speaking, delaying your period can be safe when done under proper medical guidance. However, the safety depends on your overall health, medical history, and how frequently you delay your period.

For most healthy women, occasionally delaying a period doesn’t pose significant health risks, and a brief delay typically doesn’t cause long-term issues. Although, any interference with your natural cycle should be approached cautiously.

Potential risks of delaying your period can include temporary hormonal imbalances or slight changes in your regular cycle timing, but frequent or long-term disruption of your natural menstrual cycle could cause more severe side effects. While occasional delay for special circumstances is generally considered safe, it shouldn’t become a regular habit. 

Considerations Before Delaying a Period

Before deciding to delay your period, it’s important to take into consideration your own and your family’s medical history, as some period delay methods may not be suitable. Certain conditions like blood clotting disorders, liver problems or a history of breast cancer may make period delay medications unsuitable. 

Try not to delay periods too often, as this can mess up your regular cycle and cause unexpected bleeding. Also, think about how long you want to delay your period, as some methods work better for shorter delays while others are better for longer ones.

You should be aware of potential side effects associated with some period delay methods, like mood changes, breast tenderness, or breakthrough bleeding. Do you have any upcoming events or activities that might be affected by side effects or your cycle becoming irregular after your delayed period? Look for other practical alternatives for period delay treatment, like menstrual products designed for high-impact activities.

Ways to Delay Your Period 

Norethisterone Period Delay Tablets  

Norethisterone period delay tablets are a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone that maintains high levels of progesterone in your body, preventing the uterine lining from shedding and delaying your period. Periods are triggered every month by a drop in progesterone levels, and by keeping your hormone level high, you can postpone your period.

You typically start taking Norethisterone three days before your period is due. The usual dose is one 5mg tablet three times a day, which you can continue taking for up to 20 days. This will delay your period for up to 17 days. 

Most women find that Norethisterone effectively prevents their period from starting until they stop taking the tablets. However, some may experience spotting, especially if they start taking it less than three days before their period is due. Your period should return 2-3 days after you stop taking the medication. Bear in mind that Norethisterone is not a contraceptive, so you will need to use another form of contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Common side effects may include irregular vaginal bleeding, changes to your menstrual cycle, abdominal discomfort, and mood changes, so they’re not suitable for everyone. If you have a history of blood clots or liver problems, avoid taking these and opt for different methods. 

Take the Contraceptive Pill Back-to-Back

If you want to delay your period and you’re already taking the combined contraceptive pill, postponing your period can be quite straightforward, depending on which type of pill you take.

For those on the combined contraceptive pill, you should be able to take 2 packs of pills back-to-back to miss a period. This means skipping the 7-day break where you would normally get your period and postponing your menstruation until you finish the second pack.

If you take the combined pill, it’s not safe to take Norethisterone as well. The combined pill already contains hormones that can delay your period, so adding Norethisterone could lead to an excessive hormone dose. However, if you take the mini pill (progesterone-only pill), you won’t be able to hold off your period by skipping the break, as there is no break to skip with this type of pill.

Get Expert Help to Delay Your Period

Managing your periods around important events can be stress-free with Click2Pharmacy’s Period Delay Clinic. Our service provides a simple and effective way to delay your period so you can enjoy your plans without any interruptions.

To get started, simply complete our online consultation form. One of our qualified pharmacists will review your information and, if appropriate, prescribe the medication for you. If your prescription is approved, it will be delivered straight to your door. Visit Click2Pharmacy today to take control of your menstrual cycle.