Postponing Menstrual Flow

There are medical ways to safely postpone your menstrual blood flow. Consulting a doctor before taking the pill is essential to assess the best choice for you and the dose to be taken.

For Young Girls

You may need to delay periods by some days when planning a vacation or some important event in your life, like marriage or an interview. Pills are available to help you do so.

You may take norethisterone pill. This chemical is a progesterone.

The hormone is normally secreted in a female body during the latter half of the menstrual cycle. If conception does not occur, the hormonal level declines, leading to shedding off of the inner uterine lining. This gives you a flow.

Taking this hormone from outside would maintain the hormonal level and not let it decline. This would prevent the shedding off of the uterine endometrium. Thus, preventing menstrual flow.

How to Take Norethisterone For Delaying Menses?

The correct way is to start the pill 3 days before the expected date of your menses. Take 3 tablets each day, of 5mg dosage. (This is a common dose of hormone that is used clinically. The exact dose appropriate for you may be different.)

Try to take the tablets at the same time each day. Continue taking the tablets till you do not want a flow, to a maximum of 17 days.

After the desired length of period postponement, stop taking the pill completely. You are likely to have a period after 2 to 3 days of leaving the pill.

Is Norethisterone Safe?

The pill does not interfere much with your overall cycles, and is considered to be safe in most cases.

However, frequent use may be harmful.

How Often Can You Postpone Periods?

Delaying your flow is interfering with the natural rhythm of your body, and is absolutely not recommended as a practice. So, do not make it a habit!

You may consider using the pill only as an emergency resort, not more than twice a year.

Frequent or long term use of the drug may give you side effects.

Side Effects

Norethisterone is a hormone. Most women may have a slight feeling of nausea or headache for some time after use. However, this effect fades off in a day or two.

A few of the users may have severe headaches or feel depressed. Long term usage of the pill may lead to thrombus formations. Migraines or depressive illnesses may show an increase in intensity.

Jaundice may appear in some cases.

Who is Not Eligible To Take The Pill?

It is always better to consult a doctor to assess your eligibility to take the medicine.

Do not take the pill if you have a history of thrombus formation, severe headaches or depression.

Also, there are certain medicines which are not to be taken with norethisterone. Tell your doctor if you are on anti epileptic pills, cardiovascular pills or any other hormonal drug.

What to Do If You Miss a Pill?

Take the next pill on time. Do not repeat the dose. If still unsure, call your health care provider.

Will The Pill Prevent Pregnancy?

Norethisterone, when taken alone, is not a contraceptive. Do not rely upon it to prevent pregnancy. You need to adopt another contraceptive method to cover pregnancy risk.

Can Norethisterone Be Taken To Delay Periods, When On Oral Contraceptive?

No.

Common Brands Available For Norethisterone

Altron, Norethissterone, Amenova etc.

Women On Oral Contraceptives

If you are taking any pill as an oral contraceptive, and wish to delay menses, you may just skip the 7 day drug free interval, and continue with the next pack. This would prevent menstrual flow in that cycle, and you will move towards the cycle.

You may do this again in the next cycle, skipping the 7 day drug free interval, and moving on with the next pill pack.

However, stopping menses for more than 3 months is not recommended.