How do I take the combined pill to delay period? Or would norethisterone be better?

[sunnerhols]

I'm not on the pill and don't use it for contraceptive purposes, but what I cant find out is on what day of my cycle would I need to start taking it in order to control (ie delay) the day on which my period arrives?

My other option is norethisterone (progesterone) tablets taken from 3 days before I am due on until I want my period to start. The problem with this is I am fairly sure this med gives me insomnia, does that sound possible?

Does anyone know which out of taking the combined pill for 4 weeks and norethisterone for 10 days is least disruptive or harmful for the body healthwise? Are both completely harmless?

Thanks (sorry for tmi but its for sex on holiday!)

Normally, you take the pill for 21 days and you don't have a bleed until part way through the 7 days 'off'. You can also take two (or more) packs without a break if you want to delay the bleed.

So, if it was me, I'd start taking them a few weeks before the planned holiday and just keep on taking them until you come back. Then a few days after you stop, you can expect to have a bleed.

After that your body will start working things out for itself again, but you might find it doesn't get back into a stable cycle at once, so if you normally rely on that then you might find it inconvenient.

But I suspect anything you do hormonally will 'confuse' your system for a little while after. I've never tried norethisterone for this (I'm on the combined pill anyway, so just run two packs together if it's inconvenient for holidays etc) so I don't know how the two compare.