Norethisterone - what happens with the next period?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

My periods are very long and heavy. We're fortunate enough to be going to the French Alps for Christmas and me period is due at the start of the week.

An abdominal ultrasound has shown that I don't have any fibroids and because I'm 37 my GP isn't keen for me to have endometrial ablation. I'm going to try a mirena coil, but becaus i'm a bit worried that I won't get on with it I'm waiting to have it fitted after we're back.

I've been prescribed Norethisterone to postpone my period when we're away, it what happens to the next one? Will it come a month after my postponed one (so I'll push my whole cycle back a week), or will I have it when it would be due if I'd not taken the Norethisterone?

I should have asked my GP this, but it's only just occurred to me!

Update on my previous post, so far although first day was heavier than noal second day seems the regular heavy. Apart from that no other symptoms. Just some headache but took an aspirin and thats sorted.

Thanks for updating Thisisvid so your second period was time wise in line with when you'd expect from when the first one after the pills, rather than coming at the original time it would have done if you'd not taken any pills.

Hi guys, coming here for the same information about the next period after the first bleeding since I stop taking Norethisterone (Sunolut).
The first bleeding arrived 4 days later after I stop taking the pill which seems normal but I had extra serious pain and cramps for extended days and was totally emotional since I took the first pill until the first bleed ends. Now that this second period was due for a week (my normal cycle is 29 days) and I have no idea what can I do to sort of "induce" the period.

Hey @Mymindblown I am thinking of doing the same thing as you and delaying the period before my holiday. Can you tell me if it worked for you and reset your cycle?

Hi @CWK100 yes so far my second period after taking the pills hasn't started, which I would have expected it to if it'd stuck to the original cycle timeframe. Nearing the end of my holiday now and no period so far! So it did re set the cycle. I didn't have bad side effects when I took the pills luckily but did have some cramping after my period had finished which was a bit weird.
Good luck!

I took Norethisterone for 6 days from 1-6 July. Period came on 10 July and was fairly normal. I'm wondering when my next period will come and hoping it won't be delayed due to the Norethisterone. Also, I had spots- much worse than usual over this last week, and my boobs were so sore it felt as though I was pregnant! Is this normal?

I’m so glad I found this thread! There is nothing out there to advise on what happens when taking this medication.
I took the tablets as I realised my period would clash with a holiday to Turkey.
I started taking them 3 days before I was due on and it really did mess with my emotionally. My emotions became quite extreme which was hard to rationalise at times. It killed my sex drive but this returned within 2 days of stopping the tablets.
I’m yet to start my period yet, stopped taking them 5 days ago. I have some serious pains which are not usual for me.
Being a women eh?

Hiya I took the norethisterone to delay my period for 3 days...I stopped taking it on Saturday but I still haven't started my period how long was ppl waiting for their period to start after they stopped taking the pill thank you

I wonder if anyone can help me, I've tried searching various sites but nothing has really been clear.
Will taking norethisterone alter the date of ovulation, or does it just extend the length of time before you get your period?
My husband is currently living abroad and the next time I will see him will be the week of Christmas. We would like to try for a baby, but according to my Clue app I'll ovulate around 7th December and get my period around the first day that I am there with him
Our next opportunity to try would probably be Feb or March next year, so we're keen to know if there is any way I can change my ovulation date, preferably by about 2 weeks, and have a good go at trying to conceive around Christmas? TIA

Hi @Halliwellclose my period came 4 days after I stopped taking the pill and I am just wondering have your period started yet?

I had the same question! My periods aren't too bad- usually just one or two heavy days with bad belly ache, it's just the inconvenience for the other 5 or 6 days.
I'm bothered about the weight gain and water retention tho- wonder if this will make me feel worse than having the normal period.

In people's experience are the side effects worth it?

Hey! So recently took these delay tablets.. I wanted to delay my period for 10 days while I was on holiday. I started taking the tablets 3 days before my period was due, and continued to take the tablets for a further 8 days. After about 5 days of taking the tablets, I started to get a pain that I can only describe as painful ovaries? I was bloated and looked about 7 months pregnant for my holiday. Not really the look I was going for. So of course these tablets have pros & cons. Personally I don’t think I’ll be taking these tablets again.
4 days after I stopped taking the tablets, I got my first period. AWFUL. My normal periods usually aren’t heavy, with minimal pain and last no longer than 4/5 days. A few days of this period and I’m curled up in bed with the worst pain ever and the heaviest bleeding. I have been taking a lot of pain killers, and using a hot water bottle. Hopefully after a few more days this period ends, and my next period is back to normal!
Overall probably not my best idea!!

This isn't an answer to the original question but I just wanted to warn anyone taking these...

I took them for ten days for my holiday to delay my period. It worked but I was bloated and felt like my period was about to start for the whole holiday, but better than having it so I was happy enough. But now that I've stopped and my period has arrived.... Oh my F'ing Jeebers, I've never had cramps like this. Every few minutes, they strike and its fliiping agony. God help me if this isn't better tomorrow going to work.

I've seen a few comments on here from others about the cramps but there's no warning on the medication about that so just adding to the unofficial database.

Enjoy!

After stopping the tablets and starting a new cycle, for how many days did you have the cycle? Did the next cycle stop on its own, or did you have to take any other alternative hormone tablets? Can you please clarify? Am taking the tablets, day 4, for menorrhagia :-(

I'm so glad I found this thread!
For anyone still looking for an answer to the original question, what happens to your next period and cycle after taking norethisterone; below is experience so far.

(I took norethisterone 5mg three times daily starting a couple days before I was due on)

I was due on my period around the 30/31st August so I started taking it Thursday 29th August to Saturday 7th September 2019 (9 days). I came on my period Wed 11th to Wed 18th September (it was a lot heavier and painful and intense than my normal period may I add).
So I would've originally been due on my next period around first week of October (3rd/4th), but if the previous comments are correct about norethisterone restarting your period cycle; then I should be due on my period around the 9th October, yet it's the 13th and I've still got no signs of coming on.

If anyone can help me guess or work out when I'll start my period that'd be great!
I'll keep you all updated when I start my period and clarify the dates and time frames between everything so hopefully I can help anyone else looking for an answer to the same question as all of us lot!

@teganjt It's been 3 months since I stopped taking Norethisterone 5 mg and my cycles really did mess up after the first bleeding when I stop the pills. The second period took 47 days to start (this freak me up!) and third period took 39 days. So it seems like although it's mess up at the moment but it's getting back on track. I guess it will took 3-4 months to regain my normal 29 days cycle.

Hope this helps! :)

@travelforlife71 thank you that is really helpful!
After writing my initial comment I actually came on the next day (14th October) - so I think my cycle has been pushed back by about two weeks. But like you said, it may take a further 3-4 months to get back to a normal monthly cycle.
Thank you!

Hey all - just wanted to weigh in and help anyone else considering taking Norethindrone.

My wedding date was set for the beginning of September and I was due to get my period in this time, so I wanted to delay it with Norethindrone, but I've read that there can be very painful side effects when taking Norethindrone. No thanks to crazy mood swings and bloating on my wedding day. So instead I took the pill just before my period in July. I delayed my period by a week just to be safe, and it came a few days after I stopped taking the pills as I was told it would.

My next period came 27 days later as per usual, but it was a week later than I was originally supposed to get it, so taking Norethindrone for a week in July pushed all of my following periods back by a week as well. A lot of people here have asked if that's how it works, and it did indeed work that way for me.

That said, my September period was then 10 days late (which was a bummer because we were trying to get pregnant and I totally thought I was) - it took 36 days for it to come instead of 27, and now my October period is also a week late as well. So it did mess up my 'regular' cycle, but overall I felt amazing on my wedding day and didn't get my period which is more than I could have hoped for!

I came back here as I now want to get pregnant, and these screwy cycles are making it hard to track my ovulation and also know if I am actually pregnant! I do regret taking it a little bit because now I do not know my cycle as well.

I think the takeaway is that Norethindrone is different for everyone. I really lucked out in that it delayed my period as I wanted, and I didn't get some of the painful side effects that others here have had, but now it's four months later and I still don't have a normal cycle yet. Others have gone back to their normal cycle straight away. So it's always a gamble, but honestly I did it once and it worked fine for me, and I would absolutely do it again if I were in the same scenario.

Norethisterone is safe for most women to take on a short-term basis. There are however, some women for whom norethisterone is not suitable for. For example, women who are susceptible to blood clots or some women who have high blood pressure or diabetes.

I took norethisterone in September as was on holiday. My period started approximately four days after stopping the pills. The period was on and off, to the degree I thought I had finished it on a couple of occasions only to be bleeding again. On two occasions I needed to sit on the toilet as the blood was literally falling from me (sorry about the details!). I am now overdue by about four days for my period after that. I have period pains, the normal physical feelings of having a period but have not actually had a period. I don't think I would take this pill again as can't be natural in any way.

Hi.

I am 19 year old female.

Advice needed. I am stressing and worrying my self over this

I took norethisterone in July for just under 3 weeks ( doctor prescribed ) to stop period for my holiday. I stopped taking the tablet once home and started period about 3 days later ( on 5 th August ) it was painful but not that heavy kind of just as usual. It lasted for approx 5/6 days

Now I haven’t had a period since 5th - 11th august (3 month) Is this due to the tablet messing up my cycle or should I be worried ?
I also am very stressed with university work so this could be having a impact ?

Thanks in advance

Sorry I should have added I used this in 2018 summer and was fine. It actually improved my periods ( pain and heaviness) Thanks

Quick question. I was using primolut on my second day of my period due to hormonal inbalance, 1 nov, usually have a 31 day cycle and get it 7 days. After using primolut for 10 days i got my withdrawal bleeding for 7 days which was heavy and paining. When is my next period due the normal time or the withdrawal bleeding time?

Nankies, what happened with your next period? I started taking it on day 12 of cycle to stop bleeding. Had a bleed a few days after taking it. My ‘normal’ period should be in a few days. Did yours reset your cycle ?

I took this as was having a rectocele op and perinuim repair . So didn’t fancy a period post op . It worked well for me I deleted this by 10 days . Day 1 was period from hell but a light one for only 3 days . I’ll watch and wait for next months ... didn’t feel bloated etc .