period delay consultation
Please fill in the questionnaire below. Any information provided will be kept confidential and will only be seen by a prescriber. These questions are designed to give our prescriber enough information to make a decision on whether the treatment is suitable, please fill them in truthfully.
period delay
Using our period delay service, it is possible to delay your period for up to 17 days, for special occasions such as holidays or big event. If you take the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back. If you are not taking the COC you can take norethisterone which is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, which is started 3 days before your period is due to start.
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POM
Period delay
Period delay, which is also known as menstrual suppression, refers to the use of certain medicines to delay the onset of your menstrual cycle. You can take period delay tablets to delay your period for any reason, most commonly this includes holidays and important events.
Period delay tablets
There are two main medicines available for delaying your period:
- Norethisterone tablets
- Provera tablets
Other medications that can delay periods include combined hormonal contraceptives which can be taken back-to-back to delay your period. Currently we are only able to provide Norethisterone 5mg tablets which is a progesterone hormone. Utovlan tablets are simply a brand of Norethisterone.
How period delay tablets work
Period delay tablets work by altering the levels of hormones in the body that regulate the menstrual cycle. The most commonly used medication for period delay is a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, known as norethisterone. This medication is taken in tablet form and works by preventing the lining of the uterus from shedding, thereby delaying the onset of menstruation.
It is also important to note that while period delay tablets can prevent the physical symptoms of menstruation, they do not provide protection against sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy.
How to take period delay tablets
The dosage for norethisterone for the purpose of period delay is `ONE 5mg tablet THREE times a day`. You must start taking this medication 3 days before you period is due and continue until you wish to stop delaying your period. On stopping the tablets your period should restart within 2 - 3 days. When ordering your tablets, keep in mind how many you will need. 30 tablets will provide enough tablets to delay your period for up to 7 days and 60 tablets will provide enough to delay your period for up to 17 days. 17 days is the maximum amount of time you can delay your period for.
Will the tablets work?
Most women that take Norethisterone find that it will successfully prevent their period from starting until they stop taking then. However, in some cases some women find they have spotty or breakthrough bleeding while taking the tablets. Starting the tablets late i.e. two days before your period is due rather than three days, will greatly increase your chance of spotting or breakthrough bleeding.
Period delay tablet side effects
Side effects of period delay treatments tend to be mild as you are only taking the tablet for a short time and will go away when stopping. Some of the more common side effects inlcude:
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Breast tenderness
- Abdominal cramps
- Bloating
- Fluid retention
- Acne
Period delay tablet safety
In general, period delay tablets are considered safe for short-term use. They very rarely cause side effects even the common side effects mentioned above. We recommened you leave a gap of several months between treatments to allow your body to regulate its hormones properly.