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?

I spoke to our gp, who had a phone call with both of us and prescribed it after. DD was at a national sporting event. She wax in year 9.

Based on our experience I wouldn't take it again unless absolutely no other option. DD completely lost her appetite and it made her quite sick and grumpy.

An alternative to your GP. Many sexual health clinics have family planning/contraceptive and specific under 24's clinics, along with menopause clinics. You'd need to call to check what your local ones offer but I always found them to have far more knowledge about contraceptives than my GP/Practice nurse. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/sexual-health-services/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

When my DD did Duke of Edinburgh she went to the docs with me for a method of period delay. She was 15 and irregular in cycle so was offered a short term mini pill.

If your daughter knows her cycle there is something else then can prescribe to delay the period. Im not sure what but certainly our GP listened to us and gave i think the appropriate medication.

I always swore that her period would not spoil enjoyment of activities as mine did at her age.

Do you have time to take the pills the month before to knock the timing off the following month? Probably safer to take them in UK if you share out your stash.

I found the pills made me feel exhausted and DH wasn't too impressed when I was tucked up in bed every night at 9pm in a 5* hotel, kind of defeated the purpose of taking pills to avoid being "closed for repairs" 🙈.

Every time I take them now I generally take them 2 months before my holiday.

I usually do this as well because they make me bloated and uncomfortable, I don’t want that on my holiday.

Thanks everyone for the advice! I've spoken to the GP receptionist and waiting for a call back.

It's good to know some people had side effects, we'll need to think about that!

Just bought some to delay my period on holiday, kind of dreading it now reading the side effects. Bought some for daughter but she started hers today so too late but don’t go until Friday so hopefully she’ll be done. Hopefully I’m okay, I was prescribed them a feed ago to stop the never ending period the pill gave me and think I was okay.

Our GP issued it over the phone for my daughter when she was 14. Didn't even speak to her, just me.

My GP prescribed it for my DD, I think she was 14. However she felt quite unwell taking it- gave her stomach cramps even without bleeding. What she has done since is used it to delay a period the month before her holiday to alter her cycle. That may be worth considering?

Mini pill makes people grumpy, better to have a period. Re extreme camping on Safari, I just wouldn't as it sounds like a holiday that is unsuitable

I thought this would be a great option for DD on our holiday next year, but when I took it this year I had total insomnia, leaving me absolutely shattered. I’m not sure I’d give it to her now

Interesting you can all get GP’s to prescribe this I thought it was something they wouldn’t do anymore, if I need it again I won’t be paying until I’ve asked.

I got it at a similar age, honestly I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid. Had awful PMS the whole time I took it and it made the period after absolutely awful (but I also know now I dont tolerate hormonal contraception at all either).

If you think they could manage with period underwear etc I'd personally go for that.

As a minimum you need to ensure it’s not going to interfere with the anti malarials you are taking

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

My dds use period underwear regularly, but I think that would be harder to manage than pads - having to have enough sets to last the full period and then carry around the dirty underwear for a prolonged period due to no washing facilities?

Luckily we're travelling in July-Aug so malarials aren't required in the areas we're in, we got advice about this.

It's worrying to hear about how many people had side effects, that definitely gives me pause for thought. Perhaps we can start them but be ready to stop if it has a negative effect?

could they try tampons? My DDs use them on heavy days and double up with period underwear just in case.

I would still recommend you take precautions against mosquito bites

I'm not undermining the discomfort and inconvenience of having a period of this type in these circumstances but it is a medication and you will be in areas that are not easy to access medical care if needed. Is it too late to defer the period before you go as others have done?

Thanks, the trip has been well researched, and we will absolutely be taking the necessary precautions from bites. Have seen a travel clinic in case there was anything I missed that was necessary.

I think whether there is time to shift periods before will depend on the response from our GP, but I'll definitely consider it if we're able to. It's a good idea!

I’ve had it for DD twice for holidays. She’s 14 now so would have been 13 using it previously. It worked brilliantly though you have to remember to take it. It’s 3 times a day

Yes that's a good point. Awful and inconvenient as periods can be, I suppose at least you normally know what you're getting and it's natural. A new medication could actually cause worse issues to deal with. Argh the things we women have to go through.
OP, could you get the meds and have them as back up, but if nearer the time it turns out your DDs aren't likely to come on anyway then you wouldn't have to take them.

My DD did for World Challenge-a month in peru in very basic conditions.

It was recommended to her-maybe by the practice nurse or travel clinic ?
Think she was 15.

I def would!

Can they go on the pill if they have horrible periods? desogestrel is progesterone only and stops ovulation so no periods at all if you continually take it. It’s one they prescribe if your child also gets migraines.

Yes, for my teen who was camping on a remote Swedish island three years ago, when she was 15. The campsite had very basic facilities and her Girlguiding leaders recommended the medication as the girls were also swimming every day. It was no big deal. She/we just had to have a consultation with a nurse at our GP practice. Just to be aware, you have to time the medication perfectly for it to be effective, so, from memory, 3-5 days before the start of a period and then take it religiously. Also, the period after the medication stops can be heavier and more painful.

One thing I’d be careful of OP is what it can do to hormones, I might be odd, but it turns me completely crazy, like manically depressive and anxious. I’ve taken it a few times and made me really mentally unhinged for a week or so, she’s so young I’d be mindful of that.