Has anyone got period-delay medication for teens before a holiday?

[Stompythedinosaur]

Hi, has anyone had any experience getting medication to delay your period for teens for a holiday?

We are doing a safari moving through Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, and the accommodation will be quite basic, and dealing with periods sounds like a pain. I've been able to easily get Norethisterone from an online pharmacy, but dds (age 15 and 13) would ideally like to delay theirs too and online pharmacies don't offer this if under 16.

I was considering a trip to the GP to see if they would prescribe that or something similar, but I wondered if anyone else had don't this and how difficult it was to get agreed?

Can you just get it for yourself and give it to them? As long as it's safe to do so.

You could try a travel clinic. Are you using one for vaccinations and/or malaria prophylaxis?

Honestly, I have considered it! But it's a prescribed medication so I'd rather have it actually prescribed for them if there's any way to manage it.

I'm just concerned that (understandably) NHS GPs might not to open to non-essential things like this! I'm happy to pay privately, just can't find a way to do that.

I definitely wouldn’t give them your medication. Exactly how basic are facilities? Do they suffer with really heavy or painful periods?

Thanks, we used Masta for our vaccines but they don't offer this service.

Basic as in camping with a toilet that's a hole dug in the ground. We'd manage if we had to, we all really want to go on the trip, but it would be easier not to have to.

All of us have heavy periods, and dd2 was autism which makes it a bit trickier.

I can try our GP, I just wondered if anyone had experience about this they could share.

I just gave DD a load from my stash, I couldn't get the GP to prescribe as they didn't feel it was necessary

Thank you! I feared that might be the case but good to know!

They may agree given the nature of the trip. If your girls are feeling anxious etc about dealing with periods they may take that into consideration. Or a private GP?

Only a doctor would know whether it's safe to do so, which is why it's a very bad idea to take drugs that have been prescribed for someone else.

I only used it once and it made me very unwell after, horrible cramping, clots etc. Would they be better to take the normal pill and run two months together?

My assumption would be that GPs will prescribe it (online pharmacies wont give it to me due to my medical history but GP happy to prescribe as the risk is still quite low). I always understood that online pharmacies have to e a bit more strict as thry dont have the access etc the GP does.

When I was 14 our school heavily encouraged all the class to get some ahead of our all girls trip to France.

I got it from my GP as a teen. I had horrific periods so I didn’t want to deal with that abroad. They were happy to prescribe it.

I asked a private GP for my dd and she said she wouldn’t prescribe to someone her age (14). I kind of think fair enough as medicating unnecessarily is never good and they’ll be on anti malarials (these have made me feel really ropey so bear that in mind!)

in terms of managing periods on holiday - make sure you have waste bags and maybe use period pants. Take wet wipes and painkillers!

It’s not ideal but the first time I did safari I was really worried about the game drives but it was actually fine

you’re going to have a fab time! Very jealous!!

Thanks everyone, that's helpful to know. I might ring the GP and ask. I'd happily pay for a private GP but can't find anywhere that would consider it.

Our gp gave it to my autistic 16 year old to use over this last weekend as we were away. Unfortunately she found it very unpleasant. It made her feel sick and she couldn’t tolerate that.

Yes I’d be wary of them taking it for the first time on holiday in case they have a bad reaction

I did an econsult to the gp who said they couldn’t prescribe and just to order some for DD myself, which I had to under my name as she was under 16. The pharmacy knew I was doing that too. All seems a bit of an odd system.

Doctor happily prescribed it for DD when she was 15 to cover DofE expedition

DD just takes the contraceptive pill, she takes 5 packs back to back then has a week break. She has been in it since she was 12 and will now juggle them by stopping or starting a week or 2 early to plan for holidays.

Norethisterone is generally not recommended for teenagers because it can worsen conditions like migraines, diabetes, asthma, depression, and epilepsy, which may be more prevalent or sensitive during adolescence.

this is what I found online - you should definitely get it prescribed specifically for your dd’s fact pattern

Agreed. Unfortunately all the reasons you’ve given to delay periods are the same reasons it’s not a good idea to take unnecessary medication.

When we went on a beach holiday last year I ordered online for my DD then 14 in my name/details, have done the same again for this years holiday.

Yes I've only ever had a positive experience as has my daughter . Both from gpneasily enough . Daughter wancadet at time going abroad with them .

just phone the gp. I have before for a then 16 year old and they were happy to prescribe it to her, the nurse practitioner totally understood, said no one wants their period on holiday. DD didn’t have any side effects during or after.