Period delay tablets let you postpone your period so it doesn't clash with a holiday, wedding, exam, race or other important event. In the UK, the medicine licensed for this is norethisterone 5mg, also sold as Utovlan and Primolut N. At MedsRus you can request norethisterone period delay tablets through a short online consultation. A UK prescriber reviews every request before our registered pharmacy dispenses it in plain, discreet packaging.
How do period delay tablets work?
Each month your womb builds up a lining, ready for a possible pregnancy. Near the end of your cycle, levels of the hormone progesterone fall, and that drop is the signal for the lining to shed: your period.
Norethisterone is a progestogen, a man-made hormone that acts like progesterone. Taking it three times a day keeps your progestogen levels high, so the lining stays in place and your period is held back. When you stop the tablets, levels fall and your period usually arrives within 2–3 days.
Norethisterone is licensed in the UK specifically to delay periods, and it is the option the NHS describes for people who aren't taking the combined contraceptive pill (NHS: Periods).
How to take norethisterone to delay your period
The dose
- One 5mg tablet, three times a day. Space the tablets roughly 8 hours apart, for example with breakfast, mid-afternoon and before bed.
- Swallow each tablet whole with water. You can take it with or without food.
When to start
- Start 3 days before your period is due. This gives your hormone levels time to rise before your body would normally start your period.
- If you start late, norethisterone may not work. It is unlikely to stop a period that has already begun.
How long you can take it
- Keep taking it for as long as you need to delay your period. Norethisterone can be taken for up to 3–4 weeks if needed (NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service), as agreed with your prescriber.
- Most people need it for one to two weeks. Our 60-tablet pack covers up to about 17 days of delay; if you need longer, mention it in your consultation.
A worked example
Your period is due on Saturday 14th and you're on holiday until Sunday 22nd:
- Start norethisterone on Wednesday 11th, three days before your period is due.
- Take one tablet three times a day until your last day away, Sunday 22nd.
- Stop. Your period should arrive around Tuesday 24th–Wednesday 25th.
That is 12 days of tablets, or 36 tablets, so the 60-tablet pack would be the right choice.
If you miss a dose: take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for the next one. Never take two at once. Missing doses can cause spotting or let your period start.
Which pack size do I need?
Because you start 3 days early, the first 9 tablets are used before your period is due. The number of days your period is actually delayed is the tablet-days minus those 3 days:
| Pack | Days of tablets (3 a day) | Delays your period by about | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 tablets | 10 days | 7 days | A long weekend, wedding or exam week |
| 60 tablets | 20 days | 17 days | A one- or two-week holiday |
Not sure when your period is due? Count forward from the first day of your last period using your usual cycle length (often 28 days, but anywhere from 21 to 35 is normal). If your periods are irregular, tell us in your consultation, because the timing is harder to predict. Read more about what irregular periods can mean.
Is norethisterone safe? Side effects
Norethisterone is widely used and most people take it without problems. Like all medicines, it can cause side effects. They usually stop once you finish the course.
Common side effects include:
- feeling sick, bloating or breast tenderness;
- headaches or dizziness;
- mood changes, low mood or a change in sex drive;
- spotting or breakthrough bleeding;
- acne or skin changes, and fluid retention.
Blood clots: the important one. At the dose used for period delay, some norethisterone is converted in the body into a type of oestrogen. This can slightly raise the risk of a blood clot, especially on long-haul flights, after surgery or if you are immobile. Keep moving and stay hydrated when you travel. Get urgent medical help if you notice pain, swelling or warmth in one leg, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or coughing up blood (NHS: DVT symptoms).
Who shouldn't take period delay tablets?
Norethisterone isn't suitable for everyone. You may not be able to take it if you:
- have had a blood clot (DVT or pulmonary embolism), or a close relative has;
- have had a heart attack, stroke or angina;
- have liver disease, or had jaundice or severe itching (pemphigoid gestationis) in a past pregnancy;
- are pregnant or might be, or are breastfeeding;
- have unexplained vaginal bleeding;
- have porphyria, or are allergic to norethisterone.
Your prescriber will also check for conditions that need extra care, such as migraine (especially with aura), epilepsy, high blood pressure, diabetes, or a BMI over 30, and for medicines that can interact, such as some epilepsy and HIV medicines and St John's Wort.
If your clot risk is higher, a prescriber may suggest a different progestogen, medroxyprogesterone, which carries a lower clot risk (Patient.info: delaying a period).
Is norethisterone a contraceptive?
No. Although it's a hormone, norethisterone at this dose does not stop you getting pregnant. If you have sex while taking it, use a condom or your usual contraception. If you've had unprotected sex and want emergency contraception, see our morning after pill options.
Other ways to delay your period
If you take the combined pill
If you use a combined contraceptive pill, such as Microgynon or Mercilon, you can often delay your period by starting your next pack straight away, skipping the 7-day break or placebo tablets (NHS: combined pill). This works best with "monophasic" pills, where every tablet is the same dose. You may get some spotting. Check with a pharmacist or prescriber first. You don't need norethisterone if this option suits you.
If you take the mini pill
The progestogen-only "mini pill", such as desogestrel, is taken every day with no break, so it can't be used to delay a period in the same way. Bleeding on the mini pill is often irregular anyway. Ask your prescriber before adding norethisterone.
Can you delay your period naturally?
Many people search for natural ways to delay a period: apple cider vinegar, lemons, gelatin, lentils or exercise. There is no reliable scientific evidence that any food, drink or remedy can delay a period. Heavy exercise or stress can sometimes make a period late, but not in a predictable or safe way. If you need your period to move for a specific date, a licensed medicine is the only dependable option.
How to order period delay tablets from MedsRus
- Complete a short online consultation. It covers your health, any medicines you take, your cycle and the dates you need. It takes about 5 minutes.
- A UK prescriber reviews it. If norethisterone is suitable, they issue a prescription. If it isn't, we'll explain why and suggest what to do next.
- Our pharmacy dispenses and posts it in plain, discreet packaging with tracked delivery.
Order at least a week before your period is due, so your tablets arrive in time to start 3 days early.
Planning a trip? You may also want our travel sickness treatments, malaria tablets or jet lag treatment.
Start your period delay consultation →
Period delay FAQs
How long after stopping norethisterone will my period start?
Usually within 2–3 days. It can occasionally take up to a week. If it hasn't arrived after a week, do a pregnancy test. If the test is negative and your period still doesn't come, speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Can norethisterone stop a period once it's started?
Usually not. It works by keeping the womb lining in place, so it needs to be started 3 days before your period is due. If bleeding has already started, it's unlikely to stop it.
What happens if I take norethisterone too late?
If you start less than 3 days before your period, it may only partly work. You might get spotting, or your period may start anyway.
How long will I bleed after taking norethisterone?
The period after stopping is usually similar to a normal period. For some people it is heavier or longer, and for others lighter. It normally lasts 3–7 days.
Does norethisterone reset your cycle?
Your next cycle is counted from the first day of the period that comes after you stop. Your following period may be a little early or late before your usual pattern returns.
Can I buy norethisterone over the counter?
No. Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so a pharmacy can't sell it over the counter without a prescription. You can get it after an online consultation with a UK prescriber, as at MedsRus.
Can I get norethisterone on the NHS?
It can be prescribed on the NHS for medical reasons, such as heavy periods. However, many GP practices no longer prescribe it on the NHS just to delay a period for a holiday or event. In that case a private prescription is the usual route.
Does norethisterone cause weight gain?
Some people notice bloating or fluid retention while taking it. This usually settles after the course. A short course is unlikely to cause lasting weight gain.
Can the morning after pill delay my period?
Emergency contraception can make your next period arrive earlier or later than usual. That's a side effect, not a reliable way to delay a period. Read how the morning after pill works.
Can I use period delay tablets every month?
They are meant for occasional use. If you want to control your periods regularly, or your periods are heavy or painful, speak to your GP about longer-term options. You can also see our period pain treatments.
Further reading
- Period delay tablets: how norethisterone works
- Norethisterone: a complete guide
- Contraceptive pills: types and how to order
- All women's health treatments
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