Norethisterone Tablets

Managing Your Period Around Important Events

Many women plan significant events like, a holiday, a wedding, an exam, or a sporting occasion, only to find that their menstrual cycle falls at exactly the wrong time. This is a straightforward biological reality, but it is one that can cause real anxiety and discomfort. Norethisterone Tablets 5mg offer a short-term, prescription-based solution for women who wish to postpone their period around a specific occasion. They are a well-established option for period delay and are available following a clinical consultation with a registered prescriber through Pharmacy Planet. Periods are a normal part of life, and choosing to delay one temporarily for personal reasons is a valid healthcare decision. Norethisterone Tablets are not a contraceptive, and they are not suitable for everyone. A clinical consultation ensures that any woman considering this treatment receives personalised, safe, and appropriate guidance before use.

Norethisterone Tablets 5mg contain the active ingredient norethisterone, a synthetic form of the naturally occurring hormone progesterone. Norethisterone belongs to a class of medicines called progestogens, which are hormones that play a central role in regulating the menstrual cycle. The tablets are taken for a defined short period, typically starting three days before the expected onset of a period. This temporarily interrupts the normal hormonal sequence that triggers menstruation. When treatment is stopped, a period will usually begin within two to three days.

Norethisterone Tablets are a Prescription Only Medicine in the UK. They are not available over the counter. A prescriber must assess individual suitability before any supply can take place. The medicine is licensed for several indications in the UK, including short-term period delay, but the prescribing decision will always be based on a woman's personal medical history and clinical circumstances.

Norethisterone has been in clinical use in the UK for many decades and has a well-documented safety and efficacy profile for short-term use. The licensed 5mg strength is the standard dose for period postponement in adults.

The menstrual cycle is governed by a sequence of hormonal signals. Towards the end of a cycle, progesterone levels naturally fall, and this hormonal withdrawal triggers the lining of the womb to shed — producing a period. Norethisterone works by maintaining artificially elevated progestogen levels in the body during the period when it is taken. By keeping progestogen levels sufficiently high, norethisterone delays the hormonal withdrawal that normally causes menstruation to begin. The womb lining is maintained in a state that prevents it from shedding for as long as the tablets are taken.

When the course of tablets is completed and norethisterone is cleared from the body, progesterone levels fall as they naturally would. A period will then typically follow within two to three days of stopping treatment. The delay does not suppress the cycle permanently; it simply shifts it forward in time.

It is important to understand that norethisterone for period delay is not a form of contraception. It does not prevent ovulation reliably and should not be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. Women who also require contraception should discuss this separately with their prescriber.

Norethisterone Tablets 5mg are taken by mouth. The standard guidance for period delay is to begin taking one tablet three times daily, starting three days before your period is expected to arrive. You should continue taking the tablets for as long as you wish to delay your period, for a maximum duration as directed by your prescriber.

• Swallow each tablet whole with a glass of water.
• The tablets can be taken with or without food.
• Try to take each dose at a similar time each day to maintain consistent hormone levels.
• Do not take more tablets than prescribed.
• Once you stop taking the tablets, expect your period to arrive within two to three days. In some cases it may take slightly longer.
• If your period does not arrive within seven days of stopping the tablets, contact your prescriber for advice.
• Do not take norethisterone for longer than the duration agreed with your prescriber. This medicine is intended for short-term, event-based period delay and is not appropriate for long-term continuous use for this purpose without clinical review.
• If you vomit within two hours of taking a tablet, take another tablet as soon as possible.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time of your next scheduled dose, skip the missed tablet and continue with your usual schedule. Do not double up doses.

Licensed Strength

Norethisterone Tablets are available in a single licensed strength of 5mg per tablet. This is the only strength used for period delay in the UK.

Duration of Use

Norethisterone for period delay is intended for short-term use only. The maximum duration of continuous use for this indication should be discussed with and agreed by your prescriber. It is not intended to be used repeatedly across consecutive cycles without clinical review. Always follow the dosage and duration instructions provided by your prescriber. Do not exceed the prescribed dose or duration.

Like all medicines, Norethisterone Tablets can cause side effects. Not everyone will experience them, and many women tolerate the tablets well for the short duration of use involved in period delay.

Common Side Effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Breast tenderness or discomfort.
• Nausea.
• Headache.
• Bloating or fluid retention.
• Mood changes, including low mood or irritability.
• Spotting or light breakthrough bleeding during the course.
• Changes to libido.

Less Common Side Effects

• Skin reactions such as acne or rash.
• Dizziness.
• Abdominal discomfort.
• Insomnia.

Serious Side Effects — Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Although rare, norethisterone can increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots in the veins). Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• Sudden severe chest pain or shortness of breath.
• Swelling, redness, or pain in one leg (particularly the calf).
• Sudden severe headache or visual disturbance.
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body.

Report any side effects directly to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk, or through your prescriber or pharmacist.

Suitable Candidates

Norethisterone Tablets may be appropriate for adult women aged 18 and over who wish to delay a period around a specific short-term occasion and who have no contraindications identified during their clinical consultation. Suitability is assessed individually by the prescriber on the basis of each woman's medical history and personal circumstances.

Who Should Not Take Norethisterone Tablets

Norethisterone Tablets are not appropriate for everyone. They should not be used by women with any of the following conditions or circumstances:

• Known or suspected pregnancy.
• Current or previous venous thromboembolism (blood clot in a vein).
• Arterial cardiovascular disease, including heart attack or stroke.
• Severe liver disease or a history of liver tumours.
• Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding.
• Known hypersensitivity to norethisterone or any excipient in the formulation.
• Certain hereditary blood clotting disorders, such as Factor V Leiden.

Women who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or have a personal or family history of blood clots should inform their prescriber, as these factors may affect whether this treatment is appropriate for them.

Norethisterone is not a contraceptive and should not be used as one. Women who require contraception should discuss this separately with their prescriber or a sexual health clinic.

Norethisterone Tablets are a Prescription Only Medicine. A clinical consultation is the essential and primary step in this process. The purpose of the consultation is to establish whether this medicine is appropriate for you as an individual. A prescription is a possible outcome of the consultation, not a guaranteed one.

During your online consultation with Pharmacy Planet, you will be asked about your medical history, any medicines you are currently taking, and your reasons for seeking period delay. A UK registered prescriber will review this information and determine whether norethisterone is clinically suitable for you.

It is important that you complete the consultation thoroughly and honestly. Information you provide about your health history — including any previous blood clots, relevant medical conditions, and current medication — directly informs the prescriber's clinical decision. Incomplete or inaccurate information may result in a clinically inappropriate prescription being issued, which carries risk to your health.

If the prescriber determines that Norethisterone Tablets are clinically appropriate, a prescription will be issued and the medicine dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy. If the prescriber does not consider the medicine suitable for you, you will be informed and may be directed to alternative options or advised to consult your GP.

Store Norethisterone Tablets at room temperature, below 25 degrees Celsius. Keep them in their original packaging, away from direct light and moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or near a sink. Keep this medicine out of the reach and sight of children. Do not use the tablets after the expiry date printed on the packaging. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If you have unused or out-of-date tablets, return them to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Do not dispose of medicines in household waste or via wastewater, in line with UK environmental guidance.

Pharmacy Planet is a GPhC-registered online pharmacy, operating in full compliance with UK regulatory requirements for online prescribing and dispensing. Our clinical and dispensing processes are designed around patient safety, and every prescription we issue is reviewed by a UK registered prescriber. Our online consultation service is straightforward, private, and reviewed promptly. Your personal and medical information is handled in line with UK data protection legislation and is used solely for the purpose of providing safe, appropriate healthcare. Our pharmacy team is available to answer questions about your treatment and to provide guidance on safe use. We are committed to responsible prescribing and to ensuring that every woman who uses our service receives the right clinical attention at every stage of her care.

References

1. electronic Medicines Compendium (emc). Norethisterone 5mg Tablets — Summary of Product Characteristics. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc. Accessed June 2026.
2. British National Formulary (BNF). Norethisterone. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/norethisterone/. Accessed June 2026.
3. NHS. Period delay (norethisterone). https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/norethisterone/. Accessed June 2026.
4. MHRA. Norethisterone: risk of venous thromboembolism — guidance for prescribers. https://www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update. Accessed June 2026.