How our period delay treatment service works
Complete our simple, confidential online consultation
5 mins
One of our clinicians confirms your suitability and notifies you by email
About 30 mins (Mon-Sun 9am-5pm)
Choose delivery or collection
Next day delivery
Same-day pharmacy collection
Collect in your local ParcelShop
About period delay
How do period delay tablets work?
It's common to want to delay your period – maybe you're going on holiday, to a wedding, or you want to avoid the additional stress for a few days. We can help by prescribing Norethisterone or advising how to use your combined pill to skip a period.
Our period delay treatment Norethisterone is a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone. It works by mimicking your natural progesterone levels, keeping them raised which stops your womb lining from shedding and delays your period.
Norethisterone shouldn't be used regularly and does not work as a contraceptive when taken for period delay.
When will my period start again?
Your period should start within three days of finishing treatment.
Do period delay tablets change your cycle?
Some reported side effects of period delay tablets include potential changes to your cycle, including:
- Bleeding and spotting between periods
- Lack of a period
- Cycles where you don't ovulate
For a full list of side effects see Norethisterone’s patient information leaflet. If you experience any of these side effects, please talk to your GP.
Our period delay tablet clinic
Request the pack size you require and complete your consultation questionnaire. We will use this information to assess whether a period delay treatment is safe and suitable for you to take.
Is it safe to take period delay tablets?
Period delay tablets can be suitable for occasional use but should not be taken regularly.
We will check your suitability when you request the treatment, so it's important that you answer the questionnaire fully and honestly.
Period delay FAQs
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Where can I get period delay tablets?
You can get period delay tablets from a pharmacy or from our LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor service.
Start a consultation, answer our questionnaire (be honest) and one of our NHS-experienced clinicians will let you know if period delay treatment is right for you. If it is, choose a delivery or collection method.
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Can you buy period delay tablets over the counter?
You cannot buy period delay tablets over the counter – you will need a prescription. For example, period delay tablets are not suitable for everyone and you will need consultation to assess your suitability. Having a consultation would allow a GP to prescribe a more appropriate course of treatment.
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Can periods be stopped?
While some women experience light or no periods with some forms of contraception, there isn't a treatment that will stop periods completely. Most women will experience a monthly period until they reach me
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Can I take period delay tablets on my period?
If your period has already begun when you take Norethisterone, it will not stop it.
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Do period delay tablets affect fertility?
Studies have suggested that taking period delay tablets like Norethisterone has no negative effect on fertility.
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Does taking the pill back-to-back delay my period?
If you are using the combined pill and wish to take it back-to-back to delay your period, it is important you understand how to do this appropriately.
If you are unsure, you should discuss this with a pharmacist, GP or contraception service as the method varies for different pill types.
However, some women may experience breakthrough bleeding and spotting with this regime.
Delivery and collection information
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Same-day collection (Free)
Order before 5pm Monday-Friday to collect the same day in pharmacies nationwide. Subject to the availability of your treatment in your selected pharmacy.
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Standard delivery (Free)
Delivered within 5-7 working days.
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Next-day delivery (£4.95)
Orders approved before 5pm Monday-Friday will arrive within 1-2 working days.
Orders approved between 5pm Friday and 12pm Sunday will usually arrive on Monday or Tuesday.
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Standard ParcelShop collection (Free)
Collect from 7000+ convenient ParcelShops in 2-3 working days.
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Next day ParcelShop collection (£2.95)
Collect next day from 7000+ convenient ParcelShop locations, if approved before 5pm Monday-Friday.
Saturday and Sunday orders, collect Monday if approved before 12pm Sunday or Tuesday if ordered after 12pm.
