Period delay tablets are pills you take to stop and delay your menstrual cycle. These tablets will need to be taken 3 days before you expect your period to start and will need to be taken 3 times a day. The pills will only prevent your period until about 3 days after you take the last tablet. You are able to prevent your period for up to 30 days at a time. Many individuals find this useful if they are going on holiday very soon or have plans, they don’t want to change.

These tablets are used to stop your period for a set number of days. The tablets themselves use a version of the hormone progesterone. This hormone is used by your body to help time your periods. When the level of progesterone in your body drops, that’s signals your body to start another period.

What are the side effects of the pill?

Like any other medication you’ve ever taken, each has its own side effects, and everyone can experience something different. The most common side effects whilst using the pill is acne, menstrual spotting (light bleeding), low mood, breast pain and nausea. One person could experience one of these symptoms whereas someone else could have all these side effects. 

Although a large percentage of women are able to use this pill, some should avoid them altogether. These individuals are women who are or could be pregnant, who have just given birth and women that are currently breastfeeding. Women with liver tumours, breast cancer and some other uncommon conditions. However, women that have previously suffered from blood clots or who are at high risk of blood clotting should avoid using period delay tablets.

Most women will want to delay their menstrual cycle every now and again, these pills can help you achieve this. In addition, period delay tablets need to be prescribed by your doctor or through a pharmacist to ensure they won’t harm your health in anyway.  

Not a contraception

Despite the ability to temporarily delay your period, period delay tablets are not a form of contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy. Those who use period delaying tablets to prevent pregnancy but do not use a form of contraception must take certain precautions in order to avoid pregnancy.