Which tablets can delay periods and how to take them?

The tablets used are progestogens — norethisterone is the most commonly prescribed for this purpose. Medroxyprogesterone is sometimes used instead. Dosing and timing are decided by your doctor based on your cycle. As a general pattern, treatment starts around three days before the expected period and continues until you want bleeding to occur, with your period arriving two to three days after the last tablet. Please do not buy these without a prescription. Beyond the clot-risk considerations, incorrect timing commonly causes prolonged spotting or breakthrough bleeding, which is more disruptive than the period you were trying to avoid. Taking a progestogen also masks an underlying cause if your cycles are already irregular. One important point: these tablets are not contraceptives at the doses used for delaying periods, and they will not protect against pregnancy. Speak to a gynaecologist or your GP — this is a routine request and easily arranged in advance.