Health Hub · Private services

Period Delay Tablets: How Norethisterone Works for Holidays and Big Events

By the Lyng Pharmacy team · Clinically reviewed by Jeetender Singh Sahota, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2048691) · Updated August 2026 · 2 min read

A wedding day, a honeymoon, a beach holiday booked a year in advance, an exam you've prepared months for — sometimes the calendar and your cycle collide, and you'd simply rather they didn't.

Period delay treatment is a safe, well-established option for exactly this. At Lyng Pharmacy in West Bromwich, a short private consultation is all it takes.

How norethisterone works

Your period starts when progesterone levels fall at the end of your cycle. Norethisterone is a synthetic progestogen that holds those levels up: start taking it three days before your period is due, three times a day, and your period waits. Stop when you're ready, and it typically arrives within about three days. Periods can be delayed for up to two weeks.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

It's designed for women not using combined hormonal contraception. (On the combined pill? You can usually delay your period by running packs together — free, and we'll show you how.) The consultation screens for the situations where norethisterone isn't appropriate, including a personal or family history of blood clots, some liver conditions and pregnancy. Side effects, when they occur, are mild: bloating, breast tenderness, occasional spotting.

Timing your request

Come to us at least a week before your period is due, so there's comfortable margin before the three-days-before start point. The consultation takes minutes, supply is same day, and it's worth noting: norethisterone is not a contraceptive — use additional precautions if that matters for your trip.

Arrange period delay at Lyng Pharmacy

1 Lyng Lane, West Bromwich B70 7RW · Mon–Fri 8:30am–6pm, Sat 9am–1pm · 0121 500 5756

Arrange period delay →

Frequently asked questions

How do period delay tablets work?
Norethisterone keeps progesterone levels raised, postponing your period. Start three days before it's due; your period returns around three days after stopping. Delays of up to two weeks are typical.
Can I delay my period if I'm on the pill?
If you take the combined pill you can usually run packs together instead — free. Norethisterone is for women not using combined hormonal contraception.
Is period delay safe?
For most women, yes — after a screening consultation to rule out contraindications like clotting history. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived.

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