What is Norethisterone (Utovlan)?

Norethisterone (also referred to as Utovlan) is a hormonal treatment available to buy in the UK to delay the start of a period for up to ten days. If you aren't currently taking a combined oral contraceptive and you would like to delay your period when you start menstruating, for example because of a special occasion or holiday, Norethisterone will be able to help. Norethisterone is taken orally in the form of a 5mg three-a-day tablet.

This medication's ability to influence your menstrual cycle also means that it is prescribed to treat uncomfortable premenstrual symptoms, painful, heavy or long periods and endometriosis.

Norethisterone (Utovlan), a synthetic progesterone hormone, can manipulate your body into delaying your period. This medication is able to delay your period because it causes the womb to hold on to the womb lining for longer, by working in the same way as your body's natural supply of progestogen. This occurs because Norethisterone has the ability to stimulate the womb lining, so that it keeps on growing for as long as you take it.

If you are taking norethisterone to delay your period, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it's important you can predict when your period is due. As long as this is known, you should start taking norethisterone three days before your period is due to start. One 5mg tablet is taken THREE times daily. When you want your period to start, simply stop taking the medication. After stopping, your period should start 1-2 days later.

You can take Norethisterone for up to 20 days in total, meaning that you can delay your period for around 17 days.

Are there side effects in delaying my period?

Period delay tablets synthetically replicate the progesterone levels in the body, and thus you should not experience any major side effects throughout the course of this medication, however you should always read the PIL (patient information leaflet) before taking any tablets to ensure you are suitable. These are also quite a low-strength tablet, which means side effects are not too severe. Some women have noted side effect symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Nausea or dizziness
• Fatigue
• Tender or heavy feeling breasts

If you are taking the medication and experience any changes that could indicate the following, please stop taking the tablets immediately and speak to a doctor:

• Migraine Type Headaches
• A rise in blood pressure
• Jaundice