Period Delay

Before we can issue a treatment, you’ll need to answer a short assessment. This assessment will help us recommend the right treatment for you.

  • privacy tip100% confidential
  • watch laterTakes less than 5 minutes!
  • local pharmacyUK pharmacy

Order Period Delay Tablets Online

You can order period delay tablets online without a prescription from Simple Online Pharmacy. There are times when it can be inconvenient to have your period, whether it is during a holiday or another special occasion. In these instances, you may wish you could delay your period. 

There are two main ways to delay your period, depending on whether or not you are already taking the contraceptive pill. If you are not already taking the contraceptive pill, then we can supply a medicine called norethisterone to delay your period for up to 17 days. If you would like to read more about how to delay your period with the combined contraceptive pill, see the NHS page on delaying your period.

If you need to use tablets to delay your period, simply fill out the consultation for our online doctor. Once you have completed the consultation, our doctor will review your assessment and prescribe medication if it is safe. Our pharmacy will then dispense and deliver your prescription to your door via Royal Mail. Delivery options include next working day delivery.

To learn more about delaying your period, you can read the NHS information. Before taking norethisterone, or any medication, you should also read the Patient Information Leaflet. Please contact our customer services team if you need any help.

Period Delay Tablets

Period Delay treatment options

  • Please select a size from below to proceed.
    There are NHS prescriptions in your basket. Please complete the order first or remove NHS prescriptions from the basket.
    Norethisterone 5mg

    Norethisterone 5mg

    Quantity:
    More InformationCompare Prices

    Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options

  • Please select a size from below to proceed.
    There are NHS prescriptions in your basket. Please complete the order first or remove NHS prescriptions from the basket.
    Utovlan

    Utovlan Tablets

    Quantity:
    More InformationCompare Prices

    Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options

  • Please select a size from below to proceed.
    There are NHS prescriptions in your basket. Please complete the order first or remove NHS prescriptions from the basket.
    Provera 10mg Tablets

    Provera 10mg Tablets

    Quantity:
    More InformationCompare Prices

    Order within for guaranteed next day delivery options

Overview

What is period delay?

There are times when having your period can be very inconvenient. Whether it be a wedding, a holiday, or just a romantic weekend break. Delaying your period is common practice and can be achieved by taking the synthetic hormone, Norethisterone 5mg.

Period delay pills are available without a prescription from our online doctor. These contain synthetic female hormones in each pill. Alternatively, if you are on the combined contraceptive pill, you can take the combined contraceptive pill back to back, to delay your period this way.

Treatments

Norethisterone / Utovlan

Norethisterone works by keeping levels of the female hormone progesterone high. This in turn stops your womb lining from shedding and causes your period to be delayed.

Norethisterone is a synthetic version of the natural hormone progesterone. Norethisterone is not a method of contraception. It is therefore important that you should continue to use contraceptive methods if you do not want to become pregnant. 

Most brands of the pill (combined pill), can delay your period if packs are taken back to back. This will not work if you have just started taking the pill - norethisterone should be used to delay your period instead.

The mechanism of how the pill works in preventing a period is the same as with norethisterone. It keeps levels of the female hormone high, thus preventing shedding from the womb.

You can take Norethisterone for up to 20 days in total, meaning that you can delay your period for around 17 days. If your menstrual cycle is regular, you can predict when your next period is due. You need to start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start. Your period will usually start 3 days after you stop taking the tablets.

Combined oral contraceptives that can be taken back to back to prevent your period include popular brands such as:

  • Microgynon
  • Rigevidon
  • Cilest
  • Yasmin

The progestogen-only pill (POP), also known as the mini-pill, cannot delay periods when taken back to back.

FAQ

  • Can I buy period delay tablets over the counter?

    Period delay tablets are not available over the counter. You need to have a prescription to get period delay tablets. You can speak to your GP for a prescription or you can complete our medical assessment online. This can be reviewed by our doctors who will prescribe period delay tablets for you if it is safe to do so.

  • Are period delay tablets safe?

    Norethisterone is a medicine used to delay periods. It is commonly prescribed for this but should not be used on a regular basis. It can cause headaches, breast pain and nausea but it can also cause more serious side effects like blood clots. This is why it is not safe for everyone to take, such as women who have had a blood clot in the past.

    For a full list of side effects, see the patient information leaflet.

  • What is the name of the tablet to delay periods?

    Norethisterone is the drug used to delay periods. It is also available as the brand name Utovlan. Norethisterone is also used to treat many other medical conditions such as heavy periods and breast cancer. 

  • What are the side effects of norethisterone?

    Side effects of norethisterone include spotting, headaches, bloating and breast pain. See the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects. Other, more serious side effects include an increased risk of blood clots.  

    Some women do experience side effects, but this is uncommon as the tablets are usually only used for a brief time. Prolonged usage increases the chances of side effects.

  • How to delay your period?

    To delay your period using norethisterone the dose is usually to take one tablet three times a day. Start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start. After stopping the tablets, you should wait around 3 days before you expect your period to start. If you do not have a period after stopping the tablets, you should check with your doctor in case you are pregnant.

  • Can I get pregnant on norethisterone?

    If you use norethisterone to delay your period, it does not act as a contraceptive. This means that you can get pregnant if you have unprotected sex while taking norethisterone.

  • What if my period does not return after 3 days?

    Usually, your period will start within 3 days of stopping the tablets. If it does not start after 3 days, you should speak to your doctor to check whether you are pregnant. 

    Content Reviewed 14/01/2021

  • Will period delay tablets stop me becoming pregnant?

    No, norethisterone is not a contraceptive. You would have to use a method of birth control in order to avoid becoming pregnant.

  • Who should not take period delay tablets?

    Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take norethisterone. If you are allergic to the drug or any similar hormone, it cannot be used. If you have suffered from unexplained vaginal bleeding, blood clots, liver, or heart problems you should not take norethisterone. See the patient information leaflet for a full list of warnings.

  • How long does it take for your period to come after taking norethisterone?

    After stopping period delay tablets, your period should start with 2-3 days.

  • Is it safe to take medicine to delay periods?

    Period delay tablets are commonly prescribed by GPs. However, they may not be suitable for everyone to take. See the patient information leaflet for information about who shouldn’t take norethisterone.

Norethisterone 5mg

Medication Simple Online Pharmacy
60 - Tablets (Up to 17 Days of Period Delay) £21.95
30 Tablets (Up to 7 Days of Period Delay) £13.95

Utovlan Tablets

Medication Simple Online Pharmacy
60 Tablets (Up to 17 days of period delay) £21.99
30 Tablets (Up to 7 days of period delay) £14.50

Provera 10mg Tablets

Medication Simple Online Pharmacy
10mg x30 Tablets (10 Day Course) £28.99

Period Delay Treatment Comparison

UtovlanNorethisteroneCombine Oral Contraceptive
Active IngredientNorethisterone 5mgNorethisterone 5mgVarious
Period Delay DoseStart three days before your period is due to start, and take it three times a day for upto 17daysStart three days before your period is due to start, and take it three times a day for upto 17daysIf already on the pill, do not take your pill free break
Mechanism Prevents your womb lining from shedding Prevents your womb lining from shedding Prevents your womb lining from shedding