Period Delay Tablets
Period delay tablets are a short course of prescription medicine that help with delaying your period in a manageable and safe way. Whether you are planning a holiday, managing a busy schedule, or have other personal reasons, our period delay pills can offer a reliable solution so you don’t need to think about it.
In the UK, norethisterone is the only medicine licensed to delay your period, it’s...
Description
Period delay tablets are a short course of prescription medicine that help with delaying your period in a manageable and safe way. Whether you are planning a holiday, managing a busy schedule, or have other personal reasons, our period delay pills can offer a reliable solution so you don’t need to think about it.
In the UK, norethisterone is the only medicine licensed to delay your period, it’s also prescribed under the brand name Utovlan [1,2].
At Pharmacy Online, our GPhC-registered pharmacy team is here to make the process simple. We can check whether the treatment is right for you through a short online consultation and, where suitable, arrange discreet delivery straight to your door, so you can get on with looking forward to your plans.
This page walks you through the treatments we offer, who they are suitable for, how our online service works and what you can expect at each step. If you would like a deeper look at how the medicine works and its full safety profile, our pharmacist has written a separate guide: Period delay tablets: are they safe?
What are period delay tablets and how do they work?
Period delay tablets are a prescription medication that contain norethisterone which is a human-made version of the hormone progesterone [1,3].
A woman’s body relies on progesterone to keep the lining of the womb in place throughout the menstrual cycle; when the levels of progesterone drop towards the end of the month, the lining is no longer held in place and it breaks down and leaves the body as a period [2].
Period delay tablets work by stopping that natural progesterone drop from happening - you take norethisterone to keep progesterone levels high and ultimately this tells your body to hold on to the womb lining, rather than shed it.
When the womb lining stays in place, your period is put on hold or delayed until you stop taking norethisterone [1,2]. In effect, they give you the ability to press a 'pause' button on your menstrual cycle.
You would usually start taking the tablets a few days before your period is due and then keep taking them for as long as you want to delay your period (up to a maximum of 17 days). Once you stop taking the tablets, your hormone levels fall, the womb lining breaks down as normal, and your period usually arrives within a few days.
Norethisterone is a prescription-only medicine, so it is not available to buy over the counter, requires an online consultation and approval from our prescribers [1,7].
Note: period delay pills are not a form of contraception, so they do not protect you from pregnancy. If you need to delay your period and avoid pregnancy, speak to one of our pharmacists or visit your GP to discuss your options.
Why choose to delay your period?
Periods, while natural, can sometimes be inconvenient, uncomfortable or painful, and in turn affect your daily activities. In these cases, period delay treatments provide a safe and effective solution. Delaying your period with norethisterone tablets allows you to bypass these challenges for a chosen period of time.
The decision to delay your period should always be made after careful consideration and in consultation with a healthcare professional, like one of our pharmacists, to ensure it is safe and appropriate for your individual health needs.
Period delay treatments available at Pharmacy Online
At Pharmacy Online, we can supply both of the UK-licenced options, subject to prescriber approval. Both options contain the same active ingredient at the same strength [8].
Norethisterone 5mg
This is the generic, UK-licensed tablet for delaying your period [1,3]. Dosage is one 5mg tablet taken three times a day, started three days before your period is due [1,2].
Utovlan
This is the branded version of norethisterone 5mg [8], it contains the same active ingredient and works in exactly the same way. The main differences are packaging and price [8]. Utovlan 5mg is taken three times daily, starting three days before the expected start of your period, and is not effective once your period has begun.
Please note: Utovlan is not a form of contraception. It is safe to use with the mini-pill but not with the combined contraceptive pill.
How to take period delay tablets
The key to using period delay pills effectively is getting the timing right. Norethisterone must be started three days before your period is due, then you take one 5mg tablet three times a day, roughly every eight hours. You keep doing this for as long as you want to delay your period [1,2].
Timing is crucial when using period delay treatments because the medicine needs time to build up in your system before your natural hormone levels start to drop. Waiting until bleeding has already started before taking the tablet will mean that the medication does not work reliably, that’s why it’s worth planning ahead [2]. Once you have taken your last tablet, your period should return within three days [1,2].
Take the tablets exactly as prescribed and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine [4]. If you are unsure about anything, our pharmacy team can walk you through it during your consultation.
How long can you delay your period with period delay tablets?
Period delay tablets are licenced to delay your period for up to 17 days [1]. It is not used as a routine way to manage your cycle and is intended for occasional, short-term use.
If you want to postpone period on a more regular basis or experience heavy or painful periods then you should speak to your GP or pharmacist about longer-term options [1,2].
Key points to remember
- After you stop taking norethisterone, your period should resume within two to three days.
- A typical course of this medication lasts up to 17 days, including the days leading up to your period.
- Ideally, treatment should be started three days prior to your period being due so the medicine has time to build up in your system.
- Period delay tablets are not a form of contraception.
Safety profile
Interactions with other medicines
There are certain medicines that period delay tablets can interact with. For example, certain antibiotics, antiepileptics and herbal remedies can reduce how well norethisterone works. These tablets may also affect medicines such as warfarin, which is used for blood-clotting disorders.
This is why it is essential to tell your prescriber about any other medicines or supplements you are taking before starting a course of period delay medication [4,5].
Period delay tablets side effects
Period delay tablets have been used by many people for many years without issue, however, like with all medicines it can cause side effects. Commonly reported side effects include [1,4]:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Breast tenderness
- Bloating
- Mood changes
- Light spotting or breakthrough bleeding
- Dizziness or fatigue
- Changes in sex drive
Serious side effects are rare, but you should also be aware of them.
When you take period delay tablets, the body converts a small amount of each dose into oestrogen, which can slightly raise the risk of a blood clot, known as venous thromboembolism (VTE) [2,3].
This is specifically why there are questions about your medical history, weight, smoking status and any personal or family history of clots in our online assessment [2]. Stop taking the tablets and seek urgent medical help if you notice possible signs of a clot, such as pain, swelling or redness in one leg, sudden chest pain, breathlessness or coughing up blood [4].
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes) and heart palpitations are other rare but serious side effects which have been reported [4]. If you notice either of these, stop taking the tablets and seek medical advice urgently.
Who can and cannot take period delay tablets?
Period delay tablets are suitable for most healthy adults with regular cycles, but they are not right for everyone. You should not take period delay pills if [1,4]:
- You are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
- You are breastfeeding
- You have a history of blood clots
- You have a history of certain heart conditions
- You have a history of breast cancer
- You have a history of liver problems
- You have a history of tumours
- You have a history of jaundice in pregnancy
- You have unexplained vaginal bleeding that has not yet been investigated
Note: this medication is safe to use alongside the progestogen-only (mini) pill, but it is not needed if you take the combined pill, because you can usually postpone a withdrawal bleed by running two packets together instead [1]. Our online consultation is designed to check all of this for you.
Are period delay tablets suitable for under-18s?
No. This medication is not suitable for under-18s and will only be prescribed to adults aged 18 and over at Pharmacy Online. If you are under 18, you can speak to your GP who can help decide if any period delay treatment is appropriate for you.
How to get period delay tablets from Pharmacy Online
You can get period delay tablets from Pharmacy Online by following these three simple steps:
- Complete a short online health questionnaire about your health and the event you are planning around.
- One of our prescribers reviews your answers to confirm norethisterone is safe and suitable for you.
- Finally, if approved, your medicine is dispensed and delivered discreetly to your door.
You can also ask your GP about period delay treatments; however, some NHS practices treat delaying a period for a holiday or event as a non-urgent request and may not prescribe it on the NHS or may charge a private fee. A registered online pharmacy like us here at Pharmacy Online is the quicker and more convenient option.
Ready to start? Begin your online consultation and answer a few questions about your health. There is no obligation, and our pharmacy team is here if you need us.
Buy period delay tablets at Pharmacy Online
Should you have an occasion coming up soon and are considering delaying your period, please contact a dedicated member of our team here at Pharmacy Online to ensure your occasion is stress (and period!) free.
Why choose Pharmacy Online?
Pharmacy Online is a UK pharmacy registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Every order is reviewed by a qualified prescriber, we supply only UK-licensed treatments, and our advice is grounded in trusted sources.
References
- National Health Service. Norethisterone. London: NHS; [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/norethisterone/
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service. Choosing a medicine to delay periods. NHS SPS; updated 2024 May 1 [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://sps.nhs.uk/articles/choosing-a-medicine-to-delay-periods/
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Norethisterone 5mg Tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Leatherhead: Datapharm; [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1494/smpc
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Norethisterone 5mg Tablets: Patient Information Leaflet (PIL). Leatherhead: Datapharm; [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1494/pil
- Joint Formulary Committee. Norethisterone. British National Formulary. London: NICE; [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/norethisterone/
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. The Blue Guide: advertising and promotion of medicines in the UK. London: MHRA; 2020 [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-guide-advertising-and-promoting-medicines
- The Human Medicines Regulations 2012, SI 2012/1916, reg. 284: prohibition of promotion of prescription only medicines to the public. London: The Stationery Office; 2012 [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/regulation/284
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. Utovlan Tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Leatherhead: Datapharm; [accessed 2026 Aug 10]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1717/smpc
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you buy period delay tablets over the counter?
No, period delay tablets are a prescription-only medicine in the UK, so they cannot be sold over the counter [6,7].
Can I get period delay tablets from a pharmacy or GP?
You can buy period delay tablets from an online pharmacy like us here at Pharmacy Online after completing a short online consultation which a prescriber reviews to confirm if the medicine is suitable for you or not.
A GP can also prescribe them although some NHS practices would class period delay for a holiday or event as a non-clinical request.
Are period delay pills safe?
Period delay pills are generally considered to be safe to use for most people when used as directed by your prescriber. However, like with all medicines, they are not suitable for everyone and that’s why it is important to discuss your health history with a prescriber to ensure they are safe for you. This is especially important if you have pre-existing health conditions or you take other medicines routinely.
- Read our full guide: Period delay tablets - Are They Safe?
Can periods be stopped completely?
Period delay pills will not stop your cycle permanently; they only postpone your period for a short time. Stopping having a period completely is usually not possible without medical intervention such as certain contraceptives. Period delay tablets should not be used to manage or stop your period for health reasons i.e., extremely painful or heavy periods. If this is something that you are struggling with, speak to a healthcare provider for tailored medical advice.
Can I take the combined pill back-to-back to delay my period?
Firstly, our advice is always to check with a pharmacist or healthcare professional before changing how you take your pill. [1] But in principle, yes, if you take the combined contraceptive pill, you can usually delay your period by skipping the pill-free break and starting the next pack straight away.
How much are period delay tablets?
The cost of a course of period delay tablets depends on how many days you need to delay your period for as this determines the number of tablets you will be prescribed. You will see the price prior to the assessment.
Can you drink alcohol on period delay tablets?
Alcohol does not stop norethisterone working. You can drink sensibly as you normally would. Read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine for full guidance [4].
Can I take period delay tablets for a holiday, wedding or Umrah?
Yes. Occasional short-term use for events such as a holiday, wedding, exam or religious commitment is one of the most common reasons people use these types of medications, provided the treatment is suitable for you [2].
Do period delay tablets affect fertility?
As norethisterone is an occasional, short-term treatment and your natural cycle usually returns within three days of stopping the tablets, it will not affect your long-term fertility.
Are period delay tablets a form of contraception?
No. Norethisterone does not prevent pregnancy and offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections. Use another method of contraception, such as condoms, if you need to [1,4].
This page is for general information only and does not replace personalised advice from a pharmacist, GP or other qualified clinician. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.
