Planning a holiday, big event, or an important religious occasion can become stressful if your period is expected at the same time. Fortunately, tablets to delay periods are easily accessible and widely used across the UK. Whether you’re looking for short-term relief or wondering about the safety and options available, this guide covers everything you need to know about period delay tablets, their availability, how they work, and what to consider before using them.
Why Might Someone Want to Delay Their Period?
There are various personal and medical reasons someone might want to postpone their period, including:
- Holidays or vacations
- Weddings or special events
- Exams or athletic competitions
- Religious festivals or fasting
- Managing menstrual symptoms temporarily
Whatever the reason, period delay tablets can provide a safe and effective way to control your cycle when taken correctly.
How Do Period Delay Tablets Work?
Most pills to stop your period for a holiday or event contain a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, such as norethisterone. During a natural menstrual cycle, progesterone levels drop, which triggers menstruation. By maintaining higher progesterone levels artificially, your period can be delayed until you stop taking the tablets.
Best Tablets to Delay Periods in the UK
Here are the most commonly used and approved period postpone tablets in the UK:
1. Norethisterone (Brand Names: Utovlan, Primolut N)
- How it works: Taken 3 days before your expected period, three times a day.
- Delay duration: Up to 17 days.
- Availability: Prescription-only in the UK, but available through online pharmacies and GP consultations.
- Effectiveness: Very effective when taken correctly.
- Cost: Varies by pharmacy, typically between £15–£30.
Norethisterone is the most widely recommended pill to stop your period for a holiday, especially for short-term use.
2. Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills (COCP)
- How it works: Taken continuously without a 7-day break.
- Best for: People already using birth control pills.
- Availability: Prescription-only.
- Delay duration: Can be used to skip one or more periods with medical guidance.
Some women who are already on the combined pill can simply skip the break between packs to avoid bleeding. However, this is not suitable for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
3. Provera (Medroxyprogesterone)
- How it works: Another progestogen-based option.
- Delay duration: Similar to norethisterone.
- Availability: Prescription required.
- Commonly used: Less frequently than norethisterone but still prescribed in certain cases.
The ‘best’ option will be dependant upon a shared discussion between you and your practitioner and based on your personal requirements, characteristics and medical history.
Where to Get Period Delay Tablets in the UK
You can access tablets to delay periods from:
Pharmacies
Hollowood Chemists offer fast, discreet consultations and delivery after approval by a licenced pharmacist.
Your GP
Discuss your situation and receive a prescription suited to your health history.
Who Can Use Period Delay Tablets?
You may be eligible if:
- You are over 16 years old.
- You are not pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You do not have a history of blood clots, liver disease, or hormone-sensitive cancers.
- You are not already on hormonal contraception (unless advised by a doctor).
Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any medicine, especially hormonal ones.
Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, period delay pills can cause side effects in some users. These may include:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
- Mood changes
- Spotting or irregular bleeding
Most people experience minimal side effects if the medicine is taken for a short time. If symptoms persist, consult your pharmacist or doctor.