The Down Side of Taking Period Delay Tablets
Stopping your period for an upcoming holiday or special event sounds like a no-brainer. However, like any medication, period delay tablets come with pros and cons that you should know about before taking them.
How Do Period Delay Tablets Work?
Norethisterone contains a synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone that plays a big part in your menstrual cycle. Each month, your body prepares itself for pregnancy by building up the lining of your uterus. When you do not become pregnant, your progesterone levels fall and causes the uterine lining to shed which comes out as menstrual blood.
By taking period delay treatment, your progesterone levels will not fall so your period will not begin. For it to work, you need to start taking it three days before the expected start date of your period. You can continue taking it for up to 20 days, giving you 17 days to enjoy being period-free. Once you stop Norethisterone, your period should start within a few days.
Is Norethisterone Safe?
Norethisterone is completely safe to take in the short-term. Like any medication, there may be side effects, but you don’t have to worry that period delay tablets will impact your menstrual cycle or fertility. Any side effects, including changes to your cycle, should be temporary.
Period delay tablets should not be taken on a regular basis and pregnant women or women who want to become pregnant should avoid taking it.
Potential Norethisterone Side Effects- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Acne
- Dizziness
- Irregular bleeding
- Breast tenderness
- Mood swings
Will Norethisterone Stop Me Getting Pregnant?
If you do not want to become pregnant while taking Norethisterone, you should use alternative methods of contraception like condoms. Temporarily delaying your period is not the same as taking birth control so it’s possible to become pregnant while taking Norethisterone.
Norethisterone vs Utovlan
Norethisterone and Utovlan are essentially the same medication and both work as period delay treatment. Norethisterone is the general name for it while Utovlan is the brand name it is sometimes sold under. The only major difference between the two is that Utovlan is often more expensive.
If you want to delay your period for your upcoming plans, buy period delay Norethisterone tablets online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925