There’s two main ways to stop your periods:

• Period delay tablets, like norethisterone
• Hormonal contraception, like the pill

You can use period delay tablets to stop your period from coming for as long as you need to, up to 14 days at a time. This can be useful if you’re going on holiday or for any other reasons that you might want to push back getting your period.

You can also stop your period using a few different types of hormonal contraception. Some are more likely to stop your period than others though, and generally they aren’t for short-term use. Please speak to our pharmacists if you are interested in regular contraception.

Hormonal contraceptives that can stop your periods include:

• The combined contraceptive pill - can stop your period over a longer period of time but you can get light bleeding (spotting) if you don't take a break every few months. So if you want to guarantee no period bleeding, you'll need to have a 7-day break every 1-3 months when you might sometimes have period-like bleeding.

Period delay tablets are a treatment used to stop your period for a set amount of time. Period delay tablets are not contraceptives, so you can't use them to protect against pregnancy.

What period delay tablets do we provide? 

• Norethisterone 5mg (brand name Utovlan)

Norethisterone is a version of the hormone progesterone. This hormone is used by your body to help time your periods. When the level of progesterone in your body drops, that's the signal to start another period. If you're taking progesterone tablets then you trick your body into waiting a little longer before starting the next period.
Norethisterone is licensed specifically for period delay, All medications we offer are fully licensed within the UK.

Yes if you want to go through your GP to get period delay tablets you can. You'll need to make a usual appointment and your GP will talk you through your options and prescribe the best treatment for you. Then you can ask the prescription to get filled at most pharmacies.

Full price or NHS prescription? - Norethisterone for period delay are not 'blacklisted medications' which means a GP can give you an NHS prescription. But, not all GPS will definitely do this. If your GP does give you an NHS prescription then you will only have to pay the flat NHS prescription charge. If not, you'll get a private prescription and you'll have to pay full price for your tablets.

No, period delay tablets are prescription-only. There are some serious health risks for certain people if they were going to take progesterone medications like period delay pills. So it’s important that our pharmscists can check to make sure they’re safe for you to take.

Although our pharmscists check if period delay treatment is right for you, you don’t have to do it face-to-face. With services like our online medical questionnaire, you can get checked online instead, and our Pharmscists will contact you if they require further information. 

Period delay tablets contain an artificial (man made) version of the female hormone progesterone. During your menstrual cycle, your levels of progesterone fall which causes your womb lining to shed and your period to come. Taking period delay tablets stop your progesterone levels from changing, so you do not get your period. This is called delaying your period.

How long do period delay tablets take to work?
You need to take period delay tablets 3 days before your period is due. This is to make sure your levels of progesterone do not fall, giving you the best chance of delaying your period.

How long can you take period tablets for?
We prescribe up to 14 days of period delay tablets at a time. If you need to delay your period for longer than a this, we would suggest asking our pharmacist about using a combined contraceptive pill instead. This only needs to be taken once a day. The pill may be a better solution if you want to delay your period for longer than a couple of weeks, or if want contraception.

Does period delay tablets reset your cycle?
Your period will come 2 to 4 days after you stop taking period delay tablets. Some women report that their cycle changes after taking period delay tablets but this usually settles down. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about changes to your cycle.

Can you get pregnant while taking period delay?
Yes. This is because period delay tablets do not stop an egg from being fertilised (when sperm reaches the egg) in the way that the contraceptive pill does. If you do not want to get pregnant, you must use contraception while taking period delay tablets.

Period delay tablets are usually taken 3 times a day.

• Start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start
• Once you stop taking the tablets your period usually starts again within 3 days.

Can I start taking period delay tablets on the first day of my period?
No, you need to start taking period delay tablets 3 days before your period is due. If you take it on the first day of your period, it will not work.

What should I do if my period does not come back?
If your period does not come back within the 3 days, talk to your doctor in case you are pregnant. Remember that period delay tablets do not stop you from getting pregnant, so if you want to delay your period and also have contraception, you should ask our pharmacists about a suitable contraceptive pill.

What should I do if I take more tablets than I should?
Contact your doctor straight away if you have taken more tablets than you should.

What should I do if I forget to take my tablet?
If you forget to take a dose, take the tablet as soon as you remember and then continue to take your other tablets at the normal time. However, do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

You should not take period delay tablets if you:

• are allergic to any ingredients in the tablets
• are pregnant or think you might be
• have or have had unexplained vaginal bleeding
• have issues with blood clots (or there are issues within your family)
• have or have had a heart attack or angina
• have liver problems
• have had Issues in pregnancy with jaundice or an itchy rash known as
• pemphigoid gestationis have ever had severe generalised itching all over your body known as pruritus
• have a condition called porphyria

You must tell your doctor if you have:

• epilepsy
• migraine
• asthma
• heart problems
• kidney problems

Some medicines interact with period delay tablets and may make them less effective. Always tell our pharmacists if you
are taking any other medicines, including herbal supplements before taking period delay tablets.

You must tell our pharmacist if you are taking medication for:

• Infections
• HIV
• Cancer
• Epilepsy

This is because these medications for these conditions may interact with period delay tablets.

Can you take period delay tablets when pregnant?
No, you cannot take period delay tablets if you are pregnant or trying for a baby.

Can you take period delay tablets while breastfeeding?
Talk to your doctor about alternative ways of delaying your period or feeding your baby if you did decide to take period delay tablets.

Can you drink alcohol when taking period delay tablets?
You can drink alcohol when taking period delay tablets. If you drink too much and vomit (be sick) within 2 hours of taking a tablet, it will not have been absorbed into your system. Drinking can also affect your ability to remember to take period delay tablets as prescribed.

Can you take paracetamol with period delay tablets?
Yes, you can take painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen while taking period delay tablets.

You can buy period delay tablets online,  but this is subject to an assessment by our pharmacists who will ensure it is safe for you to take. It is a prescription only medicine, so needs to be supplied in line with current guidance. 

You can buy period delay tablets from M W Phillips online by simply:

1. Fill in the brief medical questionnaire on our site.
2. Our Pharmscists will then review your answers and make sure it is safe to supply you with period delay tablets.
3. You then decide how you would like to receive your medication, either as a discreet package through the post or you can collect it from your local M W Phillips. 
4. At any point, you can message our pharmacists for advice.

As with any medication, side effects are possible and they can vary from person to person and in severity.

Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of:

• an allergic reaction
• a blood clot in the lungs or brain
• deep-vein thrombosis

You can check the patient information leaflet for symptoms of these serious conditions.

You should also seek medical advice if you experience yellowing of your skin or have a migraine for the first time.

All period delay treatments may not be 100% effective. Norethisterone can still cause breakthrough bleeding during use. Making sure you take your treatment exactly as prescribed is the best way to get the most out of it.

Less serious side effects that have been reported by women taking period delay tablets include:

• breast tenderness
• changes to your menstrual cycle
• feeling sick
• headache
• changes to mood and sex drive
• breakthrough bleeding

Talk to your doctor if the side effects are causing you concern. It is not recommended to take period delay tablets regularly.

There is detailed information on potential side effects and their symptoms in the Patient Information Leaflet.

You need to take period delay tablets 3 days before your period is due. This is to make sure your levels of progesterone do not fall, giving you the best chance of delaying your period.

Your period will come 2 to 4 days after you stop taking period delay tablets. Some women report that their cycle changes after taking period delay tablets but this usually settles down. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about changes to your cycle.

Yes - This is because period delay tablets do not stop an egg from being fertilised (when sperm reaches the egg) in the way that the contraceptive pill does. If you do not want to get pregnant, you must use contraception while taking period delay tablets.

Period delay tablets are usually taken 3 times a day.

• Start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start
• Once you stop taking the tablets your period usually starts again within 3 days.

No, you need to start taking period delay tablets 3 days before your period is due. If you take it on the first day of your period, it will not work.

If your period does not come back within the 3 days, talk to your doctor in case you are pregnant. Remember that period delay tablets do not stop you from getting pregnant, so if you want to delay your period and also have contraception, you should ask your doctor about a suitable contraceptive pill.

Your Summary Care Record (SCR) is an electronic version of your GP medical records, which can only be accessed by authorised healthcare staff that are directly involved in your care. It contains basic information about you (i.e. your name, address, date of birth and NHS number), your allergies, current medications, any reactions to medication and medical notes from the GP.

When you sign up for treatment with M W Phillips you are giving your consent to enable our pharmacists at M W Phillips Chemists to access your SCR for all medical occurrences whilst you are a patient.

We will need to access your summary care records to verify you as a patient when you sign up and to ensure that we maintain correct patient information. We may also need to access your SCR to help us provide you with a safe and effective pharmacy service, addressing any clinical issues to ensure that the right medication is dispensed to you. Only the pharmacists involved in your care will be able to access your Summary Care Record. You can request to view your SCR through your GP, or any other authorised healthcare professional at any time.

Further information on SCR can be found at https://digital.nhs.uk/scr/.

You can retract the authorisation to access your SCR at any point by informing the staff at M W Phillips.