Norethisterone 5mg Tablets
Price range: £15.00 through £30.00
Norethisterone 5mg period delay tablets. One tablet three times a day, started 3 days before your period. From £15. Pharmacist review required before supply.
- Pharmacist clinical review before supply
- UK pricing shown by pack size
- Discreet delivery options available
Introduction
About norethisterone 5mg tablets
Norethisterone is a hormonal medication used to help control ovulation and menstruation. For period delay, it is a short course of 5mg tablets taken to postpone a bleed for a holiday, exam, wedding or similar event.
You usually start three days before your period is due and take one tablet three times a day. Treatment is only supplied after a UK-registered clinician reviews your consultation. It is not a regular contraceptive method and it does not reliably prevent pregnancy.
Private Pharmacy Care lists current pack sizes and guide prices so you can plan your consultation with clear expectations. Nothing is supplied unless a clinician decides treatment is appropriate.
- 30 tablets — £15
- 60 tablets — £30
Benefits
Why people consider norethisterone
Taken correctly, norethisterone can delay a period for a limited time. Bleeding often starts a few days after you stop. It is still a prescription medicine, and a clinician must agree it is safe for you.
Short-term period delay
Useful when you want to postpone a bleed for a planned event and a clinician agrees it is appropriate.
Clear start-and-stop dates
Start three days before your period is due. After you stop, a bleed typically follows within a few days.
Two pack sizes
Choose 30 tablets or 60 tablets. The longest course we offer is 17 days.
Clinician review before supply
Every request is checked against clot risk, migraine, pregnancy risk, liver history and current medicines before a prescription is issued.
Eligibility
Who norethisterone may be for
Period delay is for adults who are not pregnant, have a predictable cycle, and who can take a progestogen safely for a short course. Eligibility is assessed individually.
May be suitable if
- You have regular periods and a clear date you want to delay a bleed
- You are not pregnant and will tell us if there is any chance you could be
- You can take one tablet three times a day
- You understand spotting can still happen, and that this is not contraception
May not be suitable if
- You might already be pregnant, or a pregnancy test is positive
- History of blood clots, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or certain hormone-sensitive cancers
- Severe liver disease, or migraine with aura that a clinician considers unsafe
- You want this as your only ongoing contraceptive, or need delay for longer than 17 days
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
How it works
How norethisterone works
Norethisterone is a progestogen. It helps keep the womb lining from shedding while you take it, which can delay a period. You usually start three days before a bleed is due. After stopping, a period typically starts within a few days. Spotting can still happen.
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Online consultation
Tell us about your cycle, the date you want to delay, medical history, clot risk, migraine, medicines and whether there is any chance of pregnancy.
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Clinical review
A UK-registered clinician checks safety and whether a short course of norethisterone is appropriate.
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If suitable, we dispense
Approved treatment is dispensed by our pharmacy and delivered discreetly, with clear directions for use.
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Start three days before your period
Take one tablet three times a day for the pack you were prescribed. Stop when you want the bleed to start.
Using treatment
How to take norethisterone 5mg tablets
The usual dose is one 5mg tablet three times a day. Start three days before your period is due. Follow the label and the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.
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Confirm you are not already pregnant
Do a test if your period is already late or you have had unprotected sex. Do not start delay tablets if the test is positive.
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Start three days before your period is due
Starting too late, once bleeding has begun, will not usually stop that period.
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Take one tablet three times a day
Space doses evenly across the day, with water. Take with food if it helps nausea and the leaflet allows.
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Choose the pack that matches how long you need
30 tablets covers 7 days. 60 tablets covers 17 days — the longest course we offer.
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Stop when you want your period to start
A bleed often arrives 2 to 4 days after the last tablet. Use your usual contraception throughout — this medicine does not reliably prevent pregnancy.
Safety
Safety information
Norethisterone is prescription-only. Your clinician needs a complete picture of your health, including clot risk, migraine, liver disease, unexplained bleeding, hormone-sensitive cancers and whether you could already be pregnant.
This medicine is not recommended as contraception. Use your usual method, plus condoms if needed. Extra precautions may be required — follow the leaflet.
There is a possible small increase in the risk of breast cancer in women using this type of hormonal medicine. The absolute risk remains very small and is similar to that of current or recent use. Discuss any personal or family history of breast cancer in your consultation.
Stop and seek urgent care for chest pain, coughing blood, a swollen painful calf, sudden severe headache, weakness, or signs of an allergic reaction.
- Do a pregnancy test if a period is already late before you start.
- Tell us about migraine, smoking, BMI, clot history and current medicines.
- You can delay a period for a maximum of 17 days with this pathway.
- Spotting or breakthrough bleeding can still occur.
- Seek medical advice urgently if heavy bleeding (haemorrhage) is suspected.
Side effects
Possible side effects
Norethisterone is not known to cause many side effects when used for a short period, but some people do notice changes. Your leaflet lists the full profile for the medicine prescribed.
- Menstrual cycle irregularities Spotting, a different bleed when you stop, or a change to your next cycle can happen. Heavy bleeding should be reviewed.
- Dizziness or headaches Rest and fluids may help. Seek advice for migraine with aura or a sudden severe headache.
- Nausea Take with food if it helps and the leaflet allows.
- Haemorrhage Please seek medical advice if heavy or unexpected bleeding is suspected.
- Skin reactions Rash or other skin changes can occur. Stop and seek advice if you think you are having an allergic reaction.
- Weight gain Some people notice bloating or a small weight change while taking a short hormone course.
- Breast cancer There is a possible small increase in risk in women using this type of hormonal medicine. The absolute risk remains very small. Tell us about any personal or family history.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine. This page is general information for UK patients and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Common questions
Norethisterone FAQs
Answers to common questions about period delay tablets, dosing, pack sizes and delivery. A clinician still decides what is right for you.
What is norethisterone?
Norethisterone is a hormonal medication used to help control ovulation and menstruation. For period delay, a short course of 5mg tablets can postpone a bleed for a limited time. It is not a regular contraceptive.
Do I need a prescription for norethisterone?
Yes. Norethisterone 5mg tablets are prescription-only. They are only supplied after a UK-registered clinician reviews your consultation and decides treatment is appropriate.
How do I take norethisterone 5mg tablets?
The usual dose is one tablet three times a day. Start three days before your period is due. Swallow with water and follow the patient information leaflet.
When should I start taking them?
Start three days before your period is due. Starting once bleeding has already begun will not usually stop that period.
How long can I take them for?
You can start three days before your period is due and postpone a period for a maximum of 17 days. 30 tablets covers 7 days. 60 tablets covers 17 days.
How much do norethisterone tablets cost?
Current private guide prices are £15 for 30 tablets and £30 for 60 tablets. You only pay if treatment is approved.
Is norethisterone contraception?
No. Period-delay norethisterone does not reliably prevent pregnancy. Use your usual contraceptive method, plus condoms if needed.
What are the side effects?
Short courses are often well tolerated, but menstrual irregularities, dizziness or headaches, nausea, skin reactions, weight gain and, rarely, heavy bleeding can occur. There is also a possible small increase in breast cancer risk with this type of hormonal medicine. Read the leaflet and seek medical advice for heavy bleeding or severe symptoms.
Will I definitely get norethisterone?
No. Supply depends on eligibility, safety and clinical judgement. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
How is delivery handled?
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it to your UK address in plain packaging. You receive tracking details once the order has been dispatched.
How it works
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Checkout
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If approved by our prescribing pharmacists, the pharmacy team will dispense and deliver your medication
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