Buy Period Delay Tablets Online

What are period delay tablets?

Period delay tablets, also known as period prevention tablets, are a prescription period delay medication that lets you postpone your period for a short time. They contain a progestogen, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, and the two options we offer are norethisterone and medroxyprogesterone. By keeping your progesterone levels raised, the tablets stop the womb lining from shedding until you stop taking them, which is what holds your period back.

They’re taken as a short course around a specific event rather than something you use every month. Because they aren’t a contraceptive, they won’t protect you against pregnancy, so you’ll need to keep using your usual contraception if you don’t want to conceive.

How do period delay tablets work?

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by rising and falling hormone levels. Towards the end of your cycle, progesterone drops, and that fall is what signals the lining of the womb to shed and your period to begin. Period delay tablets top up your progesterone levels so they stay high, which keeps the womb lining in place and delays your period.

The tablets only work as long as you keep taking them. Once you stop, your progesterone levels fall as they normally would, and your period usually arrives within two to three days. This is why timing matters, and why you need to start the course before your period is due rather than once it’s already begun.

How to Delay Your Period

To delay your period, you’ll usually start taking your tablets 3 days before your period is due to start. You then take them throughout the time you want to hold your period back, up to the maximum your prescriber advises, and stop when you’re ready for your period to return. With norethisterone, that means one tablet three times a day for up to 17 days.

It’s worth ordering in good time so your treatment arrives before you need to start it. If your reason for delaying involves long-haul travel or flights, mention this in your consultation, as sitting still for long periods can raise the risk of blood clots, and our prescriber will factor this into your assessment.

How effective are period delay tablets?

Norethisterone is a reliable way to hold your period back when it’s taken correctly. In a randomised controlled trial, only 8% of women taking norethisterone had any breakthrough bleeding, compared with 43% of those using the combined pill for the same purpose. Effectiveness does vary from person to person, so it can be less predictable if your periods are irregular, which is something our pharmacists will check during your consultation.

Period Delay Treatment

We offer two prescription period delay treatments, both progestogens that work in a similar way. Which one suits you depends on your medical history and whether you’re using any hormonal contraception, and our pharmacists will help confirm the right choice during your consultation.

Norethisterone

Norethisterone is the most widely used pill to delay periods in the UK. It’s a prescription-only progestogen that mimics progesterone, so it’s suited to people who aren’t taking the contraceptive pill. You start it three days before your period is due and take one tablet three times a day for up to 17 days, then your period usually returns within three days of your last dose. Utovlan is a branded version of norethisterone that works in exactly the same way.

Medroxyprogesterone

Medroxyprogesterone acetate is another progestogen option, available as Medroxyprogesterone tablets or under the brand name Provera. It’s used both to delay periods and to help regulate the menstrual cycle, and it holds your period back while you take it in the same way norethisterone does. The dose and timing differ from norethisterone, so your prescriber will confirm exactly how to take it based on your consultation.

What are the side effects of period delay tablets?

Most people who take norethisterone tablets have no problems, but as with any medication, side effects are possible. The most common ones are headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, bloating and mild skin or mood changes, and some people notice light spotting. These effects are usually mild and settle once you stop taking the tablets.

Progestogens can slightly raise the risk of blood clots, which matters most if you’re taking a long-haul flight, so you must mention any travel plans in your consultation. If you have a severe headache, chest pain, breathlessness or swelling and pain in your leg, seek medical advice straight away. Always read the patient information leaflet before you start, and go through the side effects before we prescribe your treatment.

Period Delay Tablets FAQs

Yes, period delay tablets are an effective way to postpone your period when taken correctly. Norethisterone works for most people by keeping progesterone levels high enough to stop the womb lining from shedding. As long as you start the tablets before your period is due and take them as directed, they’ll usually hold your period back until you stop.

Period delay tablets are considered safe for most healthy people when used occasionally and as directed. Like any medication, they can cause side effects, such as bloating, breast tenderness or mild nausea, and they aren’t suitable for everyone. Our pharmacists will review your medical history during your consultation to make sure they’re right for you.

Period delay tablets are designed for short-term, occasional use rather than something to take every month. You can take them for up to around 10 to 14 days at a time to cover a specific event. If you find yourself wanting to delay your period regularly, speak to your GP about longer-term options like the combined pill.

Period delay tablets aren’t available over the counter because they’re a prescription-only medication. You can buy them online from Click2Pharmacy after a short consultation with one of our licensed pharmacists. Once approved, we’ll send your treatment directly to your door.

No, period delay tablets aren’t a form of contraception and won’t protect you against pregnancy. Norethisterone taken for period delay works differently from the progestogen-only pill and shouldn’t be relied on to prevent conception. If you need contraception, you’ll want to use a separate reliable method.

If you’re taking the combined pill, you usually won’t need separate period delay tablets. Instead you can delay your period by running two packets back-to-back without the usual break. It’s worth checking with a pharmacist or GP first, as the right approach depends on which pill you take.

Delaying your period with norethisterone doesn’t stop you from getting pregnant, as these tablets aren’t a contraceptive. If you have unprotected sex while taking them, pregnancy is still possible. You should keep using your usual contraception if you don’t want to conceive.

Yes, holidays, weddings and Umrah are some of the most common reasons people choose to delay their period. Period delay tablets let you push your period back so it doesn’t clash with your plans. Just make sure you order in good time, as you’ll need to start the tablets three days before your period is due.

Stress can affect your menstrual cycle and sometimes delay your period naturally. High stress levels influence the hormones that control ovulation, which can make your cycle longer or less predictable. This is different from using period delay tablets, which delay your period in a controlled and intentional way.

You can drink alcohol in moderation while taking period delay tablets, as it doesn’t stop them from working. That said, alcohol can add to side effects like nausea, so it’s sensible not to overdo it. If you have any concerns, our pharmacists are happy to advise during your consultation.

The mini pill, or progestogen-only pill, doesn’t always give you a predictable period, so period delay tablets aren’t usually the right approach. Bleeding patterns on the mini pill vary a lot from person to person. If your periods are causing problems, it’s best to speak to your GP or our pharmacists about your options.

Period delay tablets don’t have any lasting effect on your fertility. Once you stop taking them, your cycle returns to normal, usually within a few days. They’re a short-term way to manage timing and won’t affect your ability to conceive in the future.

Norethisterone can delay your period for up to 17 days when taken as directed. You take the tablets throughout the time you want to hold your period back, then stop when you’re ready for it to return. Delaying beyond the recommended limit isn’t advised, so check with your prescriber if you need cover for a longer stretch.

Period delay tablets need to be started three days before your period is due to work properly. Once your period would normally begin, the tablets keep it at bay for as long as you keep taking them. If you start too late, your period may have already begun and the tablets won’t be as effective.

Most healthy people can take period delay tablets for occasional use, but they aren’t suitable for everyone. They may not be recommended if you have a history of blood clots, migraine with aura, liver disease, or some hormone-related cancers. Our pharmacists will check your medical history during your consultation to confirm whether they’re safe for you.