Orders placed after 2pm on Friday 22nd May will be dispatched on Tuesday 26th May due to the Bank Holiday.
Period Postponement Online
Stay in Control of Your Schedule.
PharmaBee offers period delay tablets following a secure online consultation reviewed by a UK-registered pharmacist. If it is clinically appropriate, treatment can be issued and delivered discreetly to your door as soon as the next day.
Many women choose to delay their period for practical reasons — such as holidays, important life events, sporting competitions, or religious observance. Period delay tablets can safely postpone menstruation when taken correctly and under medical supervision. Treatment is short-term and does not permanently alter your menstrual cycle.
What Is Period Delay?
Period delay refers to the temporary postponement of menstruation using hormonal medication. The most commonly used medicine in the UK for this purpose is Norethisterone 5mg, a synthetic progestogen hormone. When taken before your period is due, Norethisterone maintains the hormonal environment that prevents the uterine lining from shedding. As long as the tablets are continued, bleeding is delayed.
Once the tablets are stopped, hormone levels fall and your period typically begins within two to three days. This method is widely used and considered safe for short-term use in suitable patients.
How Does Period Delay Work?
The menstrual cycle is controlled by fluctuating hormone levels, particularly oestrogen and progesterone. During the second half of the cycle, progesterone maintains the lining of the womb. When progesterone levels fall, menstruation begins. Norethisterone acts in a similar way to progesterone. By maintaining stable hormone levels, it prevents the lining from shedding. When the medication is stopped, hormone levels drop and a withdrawal bleed occurs — similar to a normal period. The effect is temporary and your cycle typically returns to its usual pattern in the following month.
Common Reasons Women Use Period Delay
Holidays, beach breaks and travel
Weddings, hen parties or special occasions
Sporting events or competitions
Medical procedures or examinations
Religious observance or pilgrimage
Treatments Available at PharmaBee
Norethisterone 5mg Tablets
Norethisterone is the most common medication in the UK for delaying periods. It is taken three times daily, starting three to four days before your period is due, and continued for up to a maximum of 17 days.
Utovlan® (Branded Norethisterone)
Utovlan is the branded version of Norethisterone 5mg. It contains the same active ingredient at the same strength as generic Norethisterone. Both products are clinically equivalent but some patients prefer the branded formulation.
Who Is Suitable for Period Delay Tablets?
Period delay tablets may be suitable if you:
- Have regular menstrual cycles
- Are not currently pregnant
- Do not have significant risk factors for blood clots
- Do not have certain liver conditions
- Do not have hormone-sensitive cancers
Who Should Not Use Period Delay Tablets?
Norethisterone may not be suitable if you:
- Have a personal history of blood clots (DVT or pulmonary embolism)
- Have a strong family history of thrombosis
- Have certain liver diseases
- Have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- Have hormone-sensitive cancers such as certain types of breast cancer
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Is Period Delay a Contraceptive?
No, period delay tablets do not prevent pregnancy. If you are sexually active and do not wish to become pregnant, you must use appropriate contraception. If you are taking a combined oral contraceptive pill, it is often possible to delay your period by skipping the pill-free interval.
What Results Can I Expect?
If taken correctly: bleeding should not begin while taking the tablets, your period usually starts within two to three days after stopping, and your next cycle generally returns to normal. Some women may experience slightly heavier bleeding after stopping or temporary cycle irregularity the following month. These effects usually resolve without intervention.
How PharmaBee Works
Complete a secure online consultation
A UK-registered pharmacist reviews your answers.
If antibiotics are clinically appropriate, a prescription is issued.
Medication is dispensed and delivered discreetly.
Regulated, Safe & Trusted
PharmaBee operates under standards set by the General Pharmaceutical Council. All medicines supplied are authorised in the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Our pharmacists follow national clinical guidance and responsible antimicrobial pharmacisting principles.
Online antibiotics are a temporary measure when clinically appropriate and are not a replacement for dental treatment. If you are in severe pain, develop worsening swelling, or feel seriously unwell, seek urgent medical attention.
FAQs
Start three to four days before your period is due and continue for a maximum of 17 days. They will not work if your period has already started.
The maximum recommended duration is 17 days. If you require longer postponement, you should speak to your GP.
Most women experience a normal period within two to three days of stopping. Minor irregularity in the following cycle can occur but usually resolves.
Period delay tablets are intended for short-term, occasional use. If you frequently need to adjust your cycle, alternative contraceptive options may be more suitable.
If you take a combined pill, you can usually delay your period by skipping the pill-free break. If you take a progestogen-only pill, advice from your prescriber is required.
