If you take the combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking two packets of pills back to back. Alternatively, your GP may be able to prescribe medication to delay your period.
If you take a contraceptive pill
Changing how you take your pills can delay your period. How you do this will depend on which pill you take. For example:
- With the monophasic 21-day pill, you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by seven days without pills, when you have a bleed. To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the first one, and miss out the seven-day break.
- With the every day (ED) pill, you take a combined pill every day. The first 21 pills are active pills, and the next seven pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.
- With phasic 21-day pills, the mix of hormones in each pill is different depending on which phase you’re in. You need to take these pills in the correct order to provide effective contraception. Ask your GP which ones you can miss out to delay your period.
- If you are taking a progestogen-only contraceptive pill every day, your periods may be regular, irregular or may have stopped altogether. However, you can’t delay your period by changing how you take these pills.
If you’re not sure which pill you’re on or which pills in the packet to miss out, speak to your GP or pharmacist.
Avoid taking more than two packs together unless your GP says you can. The lining of your womb continues to build up as you take the pills, and you may experience side effects, such as:
- breakthrough bleeding as the lining of your womb sheds slightly
- bloating
- stomach pains
If you don’t take a contraceptive pill
See your GP. They may be able to prescribe medication called norethisterone to delay your period. Your GP will advise you when to take norethisterone and for how long.
Usually, you will be prescribed three norethisterone tablets a day, starting three days before you expect your period to begin. Your period should arrive two to three days after you stop taking the medication.
Important: norethisterone is not a contraceptive and it may not be suitable if you have a history of thrombosis (blood clots in the veins).
Starting the contraceptive pill
If you currently use another type of contraception, you may wish to start using the combined contraceptive pill. This will allow you to delay your period when you go on holiday.
However, you may need to start this pill several weeks before you plan to go on holiday, and it is not suitable for everyone. Ask your GP for more information.
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