There's never a perfect time for a period, but some timings are worse than others. A Christmas party, a New Year's Eve plan, a ski trip or a week of winter sun. If you're wondering how to delay your period, there are two main options: period delay tablets, or taking your combined pill packs back to back if you're already on it.1
This guide helps you work out which method suits you, how to time it, and what to plan for if your big dates fall over the festive season.
Whichever method you use, plan ahead. Both need to be in place a few days before your period is due, not once it arrives.
Which period delay method is right for you?
The short answer depends on what contraception you use now.
| Your situation |
Usual option |
When to start |
| On the combined pill |
Take packs back to back |
When you'd normally start your pill break |
| On the mini pill |
Period delay tablets |
3 days before your period is due |
| Not on hormonal contraception |
Period delay tablets |
3 days before your period is due |
If you're on a phasic pill, or you're not sure what type you take, check with a pharmacist before doing anything.2
Already on the combined pill? You probably don't need anything extra. Running your packs together is often all it takes.
How to delay your period if you're not on the pill
If you don't take the combined pill, the usual option is norethisterone. It's the only medicine licensed in the UK to delay periods.2
It's a man-made version of the hormone progesterone. Taking it keeps your hormone levels up, so your womb lining stays put and your period waits.3
The basics:
- You take one 5mg tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due.3
- We prescribe it for up to 20 days, which can delay your period by up to 17 days.
- Your period usually arrives 2 to 3 days after your last tablet.3
- It isn't a contraceptive, so use condoms if you need protection.3
Norethisterone isn't suitable for everyone, which is why we check your health in our period delay consultation first. For dosing, side effects and who should avoid it, read our full norethisterone guide.
Set a phone reminder for 3 days before your period is due. Starting on time is the biggest factor in whether period delay tablets work.
How to delay your period if you're on the pill
If you take the combined pill, you may be able to delay your period without any extra medicine. The bleed you get in your pill-free week isn't a true period. It's a withdrawal bleed caused by the drop in hormones. Skip the break and you skip the bleed.1
How you do this depends on your pill:2
- 21-day pills - finish your pack, then start a new one straight away without the usual 7-day break.
- Every day (ED) pills - skip the inactive (dummy) pills and go straight on to the active pills in your next pack.
- Phasic pills - these have different doses through the pack, so speak to a pharmacist or your GP before trying this.
This only works with the combined pill. The mini pill (progestogen-only pill) is already taken every day without a break, so you can't use it in the same way.
Your pill keeps protecting you as normal when you take packs back to back, as long as you don't miss any.1 You might get some spotting or breakthrough bleeding, especially if you run more than one pack together.
On a phasic pill? Check with a pharmacist before you skip a break. Not every pill can be taken back to back in the same way.
Norethisterone or the pill: which is better?
Both work for most people. The better choice is usually the one that fits around what you already take.
If you're on the combined pill, running packs together means no extra tablets and no change to your contraception. If you're not, or you can't take oestrogen, norethisterone is the usual route, as it doesn't contain any.
Spotting is the most common annoyance with either method. In one randomised trial, people who used norethisterone to delay a period had less breakthrough spotting than those who used the combined pill.4 It was a small study, so it's one factor to weigh up rather than a deciding one.
Not sure which suits you? A pharmacist can talk it through during your consultation.
Delaying your period over Christmas and winter
The festive season packs a lot into a few weeks. Parties, travel, family days and New Year's Eve all land close together, so it's a common time to want your period out of the way. A little planning goes a long way.
Work out your dates early
Count back from when your period is due, not from the event itself. If your period is due on Christmas Eve, you'd start norethisterone on 21 December. If you're on the pill, check now whether your pill break lands over the holidays, so you know which pack to run on.
Cycles can be harder to predict at this time of year. Stress can make a period come late, which can throw out your timing. If your cycle is irregular, ask a pharmacist when to start rather than guessing.
Leave time for delivery and closures
Post is busier in December, and many GP surgeries close over the bank holidays. If you need a prescription, sort it well before your start date. That way you're not relying on a delivery arriving the day you need your first tablet.
Flying somewhere warm?
Long periods of sitting still, like a long-haul flight, raise your risk of a blood clot.5 Hormone medicines such as norethisterone also raise that risk very slightly.3
That doesn't mean you can't take it. But tell your prescriber about any long flight during your consultation. On the plane, get up and walk around when you can, and drink plenty of water.5
Jetting off for winter sun? Mention the flight at your consultation, then keep moving and stay hydrated on board.
Is it safe to delay your period?
For most people, delaying a period now and then is safe with either method.1 Your prescriber will check that the option you choose is right for you.
Norethisterone isn't suitable if you've had a blood clot, or a close family member has, or if you have certain heart or liver problems.3 Stop taking it and get medical help straightaway if you have sudden chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or pain and swelling in one calf.3
If your period doesn't come after you finish your tablets, take a pregnancy test and speak to your doctor.3
Want to skip periods regularly, not just for the odd event? Speak to your GP or prescriber. There are longer-term options, including other ways to take the pill, that may suit you better.2
Sudden chest pain, breathlessness or a painful, swollen calf can be signs of a blood clot. Stop taking norethisterone and get urgent medical help.
Can you delay your period naturally?
You'll find plenty of tips online. Drink lemon juice. Try apple cider vinegar. Exercise more. The trouble is, there's no good evidence that any of them work.6
Stress can make a period late, but that's not something you can control or plan around. If you need your period to wait for a specific date, a licensed medicine or your combined pill is the reliable way to do it.
Do not rely on home remedies to delay your period for an important date. They are not proven to work.
Frequently asked questions
Can the morning after pill delay your period?
It can. Emergency contraception can make your next period come earlier, later or feel more painful than usual. This is normal and usually settles by the following cycle. If your period is more than 7 days late after taking the morning after pill, or it’s unusually light or short, take a pregnancy test.
Can stress delay your period?
Yes, stress can make your period late or cause you to miss one. But it isn’t a reliable way to delay a period on purpose, and you can’t control the timing. If your periods are often late or irregular, or you’ve missed several in a row, it’s worth speaking to your GP.
Can you get pregnant on period delay tablets?
Yes. Period delay tablets like norethisterone are not a contraceptive, so they won’t stop you getting pregnant. If you’re having sex while taking them and want to avoid pregnancy, use another method, such as condoms. If your period doesn’t come after you finish the tablets, take a pregnancy test.
How do period delay tablets work?
Period delay tablets contain norethisterone, a man-made version of the hormone progesterone. Your period normally starts when progesterone levels drop. Taking norethisterone keeps those levels up, so your womb lining stays in place. When you stop taking the tablets, levels fall and your period usually arrives within about 3 days.
What happens when you stop taking norethisterone?
Once you stop taking norethisterone, your hormone levels drop and your period should start within about 3 days. Your next cycle then usually carries on as normal. If your period doesn’t arrive after you finish the tablets, speak to your doctor and take a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.
References
- NHS. How can I delay my period? NHS website; 2026. nhs.uk
- Specialist Pharmacy Service. Choosing a medicine to delay periods. Specialist Pharmacy Service; 2025. sps.nhs.uk
- Wockhardt UK Ltd. Norethisterone 5mg Tablets: Patient Information Leaflet. Electronic Medicines Compendium; 2024. medicines.org.uk/emc
- Dean J, Kramer KJ, Akbary F, et al. Norethindrone is superior to combined oral contraceptive pills in short-term delay of menses and onset of breakthrough bleeding: a randomized trial. BMC Women's Health. 2019;19:70. doi:10.1186/s12905-019-0766-6
- NHS. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). NHS website; 2026. nhs.uk
- Planned Parenthood. Can a shot of lemon juice delay my period? Planned Parenthood; 2023. plannedparenthood.org
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medication and speak to a healthcare professional if you have specific concerns.