to not know about the no period on holiday pill?

[TruthOnTrial]

Please can someone enlighten me about this?

How does it work?

How long has this been a thing and ive not heard about it? Thinking for this summer holiday.

Feeling bit stupid . Why have i only just heard about this!

You can request it from your gp but it's a private prescription so not cheap (was £21 the last time I bought it). It's not a medical necessity so hardly something the nhs would be promoting but it is on their website.

It usually means if you take the pill you carry on taking it intstead of the 7 day break, then you won't have a period until you do have a break.

I've had it (for free, I think that might have changed now) and it's fine, you just have a heavy bleed when you stop taking it.

It's called Norethisterone. You start taking it a few days before your period is due (though I've taken it first day when it's turned up early and it's still stopped it) and then stop when your holiday is over.

I've used it a few times, first time when I was a teenager (I'm in my 40s now)

For me side effects have been - getting tearful or angry (only for a day)

And when I finish using it I usually get a bad headache. But that's better than a period ruining holiday.

It’s called norethisterone and your GP should be able to sort a prescription for you. I don’t think I paid privately when I had it but that was some time ago so worth checking with your surgery. I do recall feeling quite bloated with it but that’s still better than being on your period on holiday.

Don’t feel silly, we know what we know and nobody knows everything. I think the pill and other contraceptions that stop periods are so common people don’t discuss ways to delay their period as much.

I'm assuming you don't mean the contraceptive pill but Norethisterone?

You start it 3 days before your expected period and then carry on for another 7 (or less if you want).

I got it from Boots through their online service. Didn't need to see a GP.

Just type Boots period delay clinic in Google.

I had it when I was13 as my periods were heavy and cripplingly painful. I was then on the pill and ran packs together a lot. It does work really well and I didn’t notice my period was any worse afterwards as it was hell anyway.

Thanks!

I knew about simply gping from one pill pack straight to the next to avoid the withdrawal bleed, but since not being on the pill hadnt known of an alternative.

its been available for decades!

Hearing side effects is very helpful, and i hadnt thought about that, especially bad headaches?

I didn't know about this either, but if you're on the pill (rather than the mini-pill) just keep taking it, ie don't have the 7 day break.

I use it semi long term as and when
I get it on line and get a two
Week box
But I take 2 pills rather than the three a day so it last longer and is just as effective I find
I take a break about every 3 /4 months months or so
It’s been the only pill I can take that doesn’t make me put on weight go crazy with hormones and become a raging monster
I do find when I stop my periods are slightly heavier and longer ie now it’s 3 days quite heavy and then 3 /4 very very light whereas before it was 1 day heavy and 2 day light and I do get a bad cramp but nothing major

My dd(14) has used it a couple of times. She is only 14 but has really heavy periods but doesn't feel comfortable using tampons yet. The only side effect she has had is that her cycle wasn't regular for a few months after.

My teen had it for our summer holiday last year. It made such a difference as she still wasn't confident with tampons. Her next period was a bit heavier/crampy but she said it was worth it.
She's now on the pill and this year will go straight on to her new packet.

I've just taken this (Norethisterone) to delay my period whilst I was on holiday. My GP prescribed it (not a private prescription), so it cost £8 or whatever the current NHS prescription charge is. I've used it several times, start taking it 3 days before you are due on, then stop once your holiday is over and your period will start 3-4 days afterwards. I don't have any side effects at all.

I took it and although I didn't bleed I still got the usual bloating and period pain I would have got anyway

You can order it from Boots and Superdrug without having to see your GP.

Good point about the boots clinic online, thanks!

Interesting to hear the side effects some have had, headaches, and period dysregulation, heavier periods for longer, bloated, and some nothing.

I took it and although I didn't bleed I still got the usual bloating and period pain I would have got anyway
ChihuahuaMummy1
How can this be, bearing in mind the pain comes with the endometrial loss and cervical interaction.

Can you explain this phenomenon, or anyone?

There’s a lot of side effects and contraindications so google it to make sure it’s appropriate for you. It is not a birth control pill unless taken in very much higher doses than what would be using to delay a period.

I took it and although I didn't bleed I still got the usual bloating and period pain I would have got anyway

This is exactly my experience. It was bloody awful and I ended up stopping taking it just so I could have my period and get it over with. It was like my body was trying to bleed but couldn't. I wouldn't touch it again with a bargepole, but perhaps it's my own fault as I am very sensitive to hormonal contraception. I did google it at the time and there were a lot of stories from others with the same experience so I would maybe suggest a dummy run to see how your body takes it.

I was quite bloated on it as my periods were long so needed to be on it for the whole holiday. It made me really angry too.

I'm not so sure that it's that sensible to play with your hormones just for a holiday unless it's a particularly special one (maybe honeymoon, for example!). I wouldn't do it, but I don't have as heavy periods as some of the ladies on here.

I took it once a couple of years ago and wouldn't take it again. I got quite bad side effects. Very heavy and painful period afterwards with bleeding every few days for 2 weeks, emotions all over the place ranging from weepy to very cross, headaches and bloating. It obviously didn't agree with me!

Oh wow I've never heard of this either, how weird.

I've used it several times since I was a teenager.
Norethisterone is the one I use, I'm unsure if there's any others that do the same thing. You take 3 tablets a day, starting 2/3 days before your period is due and stopping once you get home from holiday, your period will return usually within the next 2/3 days. I've never had any side effects from using it and it makes holidays so much easier, no period, no cramping, not having to take with or buy sanitary products, being able to swim and enjoy yourself.

I just call my GP surgery, tell the receptionist how many days worth I need and then a doctor calls me back within an hour to check how much I need, reminds me how to take it and check if I'm taking other medicines (it doesn't interfere with any other medicines I'm on (beta blockers, pain killers and contraception) then I pick it up from my local pharmacy the same day.

If you're going on holiday and expecting a period, I'd definitely recommend it!

I’ve just finished taking it for the first time. I took it to induce a period (as prescribed by fertility clinic). I took it for 5 days and the day after finishing spent most of the day crying at work. I look back and wonder what was going on with my hormones....I have never cried at work!! Anyway it did the job. I think its just progesterone (might be completely wrong).