What is Norethisterone and what is it used for?
Period delay tablets such as Norethisterone belong to a group of medicines known as Progestogens which mimics the natural female hormone, progesterone. Norethisterone is used to delay your period if it falls on a special occasion such as your wedding day, a holiday, or exam. If having a period would cause disruption to these occasions you can push back the bleeding for a few days or weeks. It may also be used in the treatment or management of heavy or painful periods, irregular periods, premenstrual tension (PMT), endometriosis, and breast cancer.
How does it work?
Norethisterone is a synthetic version of the female sex hormone, progesterone. Progesterone levels fluctuate throughout menstruation, they rise to prepare the womb for a fertilised egg, and drop when a pregnancy does not occur causing the womb lining to shed through your period. Essentially, this medicine tricks your body into believing you’re pregnant so you don’t get a period until you stop taking the drug. It does this by manipulating the levels of progesterone and mimicking the effects of pregnancy. Norethisterone can delay your period for up to 17 days.
Who can take Norethisterone?
If you’re not on the combined pill (which can also be used to delay your period by taking packs back-to-back) and you want to delay your period temporarily, you may be able to take Norethisterone. This medicine is intended for menstruating women who want to delay their period, but it may also be taken by women who are experiencing irregular, heavy, or painful periods, symptoms of PMT, or who have endometriosis or breast cancer.
Who should not take Norethisterone?
Not all women will be able to delay their period in this way as they may not be suitable to take this medicine. There are a number of reasons why someone may not be able to take Norethisterone, this is usually due to existing medical conditions which could be made worse by taking this medicine, or if you’re taking any other medications which could interact with Norethisterone. You should consult with a doctor before taking this medicine and you should not take it if you have any of the following:
- You are allergic to Norethisterone or any ingredient in this medicine, or any other hormonal medicines
- If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
- If you or a family member have ever had problems with blood clots including deep vein thrombosis
- If you’ve ever had a heart attack or angina
- If you have liver problems
- If you’ve ever experienced problems during pregnancy such as jaundice or an itchy rash known as pemphigoid gestationis
- If you have severe itching known as pruritus
- If you have a condition known as porphyria
You should also speak to your doctor if you have epilepsy, migraine headaches, asthma, heart problems, or kidney problems.
You should not take Norethisterone if you’re pregnant as it can affect the development of unborn babies. If you’re breastfeeding you should speak to your doctor first if you’d like to take this medicine to ensure it won’t affect your breastfeeding child. If you’re planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor for advice about taking Norethisterone. It’s also important to know that Norethisterone does not act as a contraceptive when used for the purposes being discussed.
Taking other medicines with Norethisterone
Some medicines may change the effect of Norethisterone so it’s important to tell your doctor if you’re taking any prescription or non-prescription medicines, particularly the following:
- Medicines to treat epilepsy
- Antibiotics
- Antiviral medicines to treat HIV
- Anticancer medicines
- Herbal preparations containing St John’s Wort
- Aminoglutethimide
- Ciclosporin
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Medicines for high blood pressure
How to take Norethisterone
To occasionally delay your period Norethisterone is taken for a short period. The usual dose is one tablet to be taken three times a day and you should start this three days before you expect your period to start, you can delay it this way for a maximum of 17 days.
Norethisterone may be taken in a different way depending on what it is being used to treat. For endometriosis you may take one tablet three times a day for at least six months, and for problems such as heavy periods you may take one tablet three times a day for ten days. Your doctor will tell you how long you should take this medicine for depending on what it is being used to treat.
How long does it take to get a period after Norethisterone?
When using Norethisterone to delay your period you should expect your period within three days of finishing the tablets. If you have no period after stopping norethisterone you should see your GP as soon as possible as this may indicate that you’re possibly pregnant.
Within three days of stopping Norethisterone you should experience a period type bleed. Some people may experience a heavy period after taking Norethisterone or possible changes in your period such as breakthrough bleeding or spotting, or your periods stopping.
Is it safe to delay your period with Norethisterone?
Taking Norethisterone to delay your period occasionally is safe for most women unless you are unsuitable to take this medicine due to certain medical conditions or medication you’re taking. However, it is not recommended to take Norethisterone to delay your period regularly, and there are some possible side effects of this medicine.
What are the side effects of Norethisterone?
Like all medications, Norethisterone may have side effects, but not everyone gets them. Common side effects include:
- Nausea/vomiting
- Headache
- Changes in your period such as breakthrough bleeding or spotting
You should seek urgent medical help if you experience any of the following side effects while taking Norethisterone:
- Allergic reaction with symptoms including wheezing, difficulty breathing, feeling faint, swelling of the face or tongue, swelling of the hands and feet, intense itchy skin rash
- Blood clot (thrombosis) in the lungs or brain
- Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis which may include severe pain, tenderness or swelling in your calf, ankle or foot. As well as purple discolouration of the skin or the skin being red and warm to touch
Other side effects may include breast pain and tenderness, change in appetite, changes in sex drive, and more which are listed on the patient information leaflet so do check the leaflet before taking this medicine.
Is Norethisterone guaranteed to delay your period?
There’s no 100% guarantee that any method will delay your period as hormonal medicines affect people in different ways. However, Norethisterone is one of the most effective methods and used by many women to delay their period. If it’s used correctly, for instance, by taking it before your period is due to begin you won’t get a period until you stop taking Norethisterone. Norethisterone won’t stop your period once it has started so it’s best to be prepared if you want to be period-free for a few days or weeks.
Can you use Norethisterone to induce period?
Some women experience very few periods, sometimes no period for months. While this may be a sign of pregnancy, there are also a variety of other causes of amenorrhea (absent menstruation) and your doctor may try a variety of ways to induce your period or restart your menstrual cycle. While Norethisterone is used to delay your period, hormonal medicines such as this are used in the treatment of amenorrhea. If you haven’t had a period you should see your GP as soon as possible to find the cause.
Where can I get Norethisterone?
You can get Norethisterone from your GP or at an online doctor service such as Doctor-4-U which can often be quicker if your period is due imminently and you need to delay your period as soon as possible. Buying this medicine online is perfectly safe, reliable, and convenient if it’s bought from a regulated doctor service such as Doctor-4-U who have registered doctors on hand to ensure any medicine that is prescribed to you is safe and suitable.
Buy Norethisterone tablets online
You need a prescription from a General Medical Council (GMC) registered doctor in order to buy Norethisterone online. With Doctor-4-U’s easy consultation process, you can get a prescription for Norethisterone safely and quickly. Simply click “Start Consultation” and fill out the short medical questionnaire provided. If you are deemed suitable for your prescription, it will be dispensed by our UK-based pharmacy and sent to you securely with full tracking. We also have the option for next day delivery should you need this medicine quickly.
How is my order shipped to me?
When an order is ready for shipping, it is collected and delivered by either the Royal Mail or DPD depending on your preference (or possibly your location or the item you ordered). Each order is assigned a tracking number, which will be emailed to you at the time of dispatch. Your medicine will be sent in plain and discreet packaging that’s eco-friendly. We do not include any branding on our packaging nor any labels which inform readers what type of product is contained within.
Advice on Addiction and Medication Restrictions
If you are at all worried or concerned about an addiction to any type of medication, we urge you to speak to a professional for help and advice. Below are links to organisations that can help.
Talk To Frank
NHS Help & Advice On Drug Addiction