Postponing Period – Patient Information

Why do women postpone periods?

• Inconvenient timing (eg holidays or exams)

Treatment to postpone a period

• If treatment is suitable it should be started 3 days before the expected menstruation
• It can be taken for up to 10  days
• Bleeding will usually occur 2-3 days after stopping treatment

How does postponing a period work?

• A period can be delayed by taking certain oral progesterone hormones
• In a normal menstrual cycle there is a fall in the progesterone level before a period which leads to menstrual bleeding
• By taking a course of an appropriate oral progesterone, the bleeding is usually postponed until the tablet is stopped
• Please note that this treatment may not be 100% effective
• This is not a contraceptive and will not prevent pregnancy

Treatment to postpone a period cannot be safely prescribed online if any of the following applies:

• Pregnancy or breast-feeding
• Undiagnosed/ irregular vaginal bleeding
• Liver disease
• Heart or blood vessel problems, or high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Previous stroke (CVA) or mini-stroke (TIA)
• History of blood clot in veins or arteries (DVT or PE)
• Diabetes, epilepsy, any form of cancer
• <Migraine with aura>
• Currently being treated for severe depression
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice), severe itching, or a history of skin condition called pemphigoid gestationis during pregnancy
• Porphyria
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to the ingredients of this medication

Common side effects:

• Nausea
• Headache
• Breast tenderness