How to delay your period safely & effectively

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Ways to delay your period

We’ve all been there. Sometimes you’re really looking forward to a long-planned vacation, a trip wild camping, or a once-in-a-lifetime event like a wedding, only to find out your period is due right slap bang in the middle of your plans! 

All is not lost, though. There are ways to postpone your period. If you’re already taking the birth control pill or other forms of hormonal contraception, you should be able to easily skip your period. 

And if you’re not using hormonal birth control, there are other ways to delay your period, including medication.

Here are some methods of postponing your period to a more convenient time.

1. Norethisterone or norethindrone

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to prescribe a drug called norethisterone or norethindrone. You can start taking these pills a few days before you expect to get your period, and typically you should get your period back a day or two after you stop taking them. Keep in mind that, depending on your medical history, this isn’t an option for everyone. 

Norethisterone/norethindrone is not a birth control method, so be aware that if you want to prevent pregnancy, it’s important to also use contraception too. It’s also important to bear in mind that norethisterone/norethindrone can affect the pattern of your menstrual cycle and might not be suitable for those using natural birth control. We have certain guidelines for using norethisterone with Natural Cycles birth control, such as excluding your temperature while taking these pills.

Keep in mind that there are some negative side effects associated with norethisterone, such as nausea, tiredness and bloating. We’ll go into these in more detail below, but it’s worth weighing up if you feel the risk of experiencing these side effects still makes it worth delaying your period.

2. Taking the pill back-to-back

Did you know that the bleed you get on the pill isn’t actually a period? It’s called a withdrawal bleed and happens due to the changing levels of hormones in your body that occur when you stop taking the combined birth control pill. And because it’s not a ‘real’ period, that means you can delay this bleeding by continually taking hormones.

If you already take the combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking these back to back. Instead of taking a break or taking the sugar pills in your packet, simply start the next course of pills. You should get your next bleed when you do stop taking the pill.

So, if you take a pill for 21 days, followed by seven days without pills, you can delay your period by skipping the 7-day break. That means you’ll start your new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill in your 21-day packet.

And if you take a pill every day (21 active pills followed by seven days of sugar pills), you can skip your period by missing out the 7 sugar pills and starting a new packet immediately. Make sure to throw away the pills you’re not using, so you don’t get mixed up and accidentally take them at a later date.

If you want to skip more than one period, you can take several packets of pills continuously. Many healthcare providers suggest that you take no more than three packets back-to-back, as any more than this can cause the lining of your womb to build up, increasing the chances of spotting or breakthrough bleeding. It’s always best to speak to your own physician or OB-GYN to find out what’s right for you.

The progesterone-only pill works in a different way to the combined pill, and if you’re on this type of pill (also known as the mini pill), you’ll take one pill every day without a 7-day break. That means you don’t have a week of taking dummy pills, nor do you have a week without taking any pills – you take one pill every day on an ongoing cycle.

This means you can’t use the mini pill to stop your periods, but some people may find this method makes their period much lighter or makes it stop altogether. It’s normal to experience irregular spotting when you switch birth control, so if you’re looking to avoid unpredictable bleeding in the near future, now may not be the best time to switch to the mini pill.

3. Starting the combined pill

If you currently use another form of birth control – whether it’s the mini pill or condoms – then switching to the combined pill can help you to delay your period. 

However, it does require some advance planning! You’ll likely need to start taking the combined pill several weeks before the date you want to delay your period. Depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, you may also need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, when you first start taking the combined pill.

If you’re considering switching to hormonal birth control in the long-term, then this could be a good option for you. But if you simply want to delay your period on one occasion, it might not be the most suitable option.

Many people have side effects when they first start taking the pill, including spotting between periods, sore breasts, headaches, and nausea – but these often go away after 2-3 months. So if you only want to delay one or two periods, it’s worth considering whether the risk of side effects is worth the skipped period.

4. Birth control patches

The birth control patch works in a similar way to the combined birth control pill. It suppresses ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus to prevent you from getting pregnant. Typically, you wear a patch for three weeks before having one patch-free week, during which you’d have your period.

To delay your period, you can skip the patch-free week, instead of applying a new patch straight away. This will delay your period until you remove your patch, prompting a withdrawal bleed.

5. Birth control ring

If you’re using the Nuva or vaginal ring, you can do the same thing. Usually, the birth control ring is used for three weeks and then removed during the fourth week, which triggers your period.

But if you wish, you can delay your period by simply inserting the new ring and not taking the break in between.

If, after the end of that week, you want to have your period, just take the ring out and don’t insert a new one. Your monthly period should return, and you’ll be back on track with your regular cycle.

How to delay your period naturally

From lime juice to lentils, you don’t have to look far to find anecdotal accounts of natural ways to delay your period. Some people claim drinking vinegar is a solution to a badly-timed bleed, while others say papaya or parsley works. 

Unfortunately, there is no clinical evidence to suggest that these foods can actually cause your period to be delayed or skipped, and while there may be no harm in trying these methods in moderation, they are not medically recommended.

Rather than delaying your period, you can use a natural birth control method and learn the pattern of your cycle. This way, instead of trying to banish your bleeding, you can predict and plan around your period, so you know when to expect it and aren’t caught off guard on your big day.

Is it safe to delay your period?

For most people, it’s completely safe to delay your period for a short duration. 

Norethisterone/norethindrone isn’t safe for everyone, so it’s important to check with your doctor before you use it. It’s also not recommended for long-term use, so do consult your healthcare provider before using it.

If you use the combined pill, it is safe to take packets back-to-back. Some women regularly take three packets in a row and then take a break. However, you may find that you’re more prone to breakthrough bleeding if you use multiple packets without a break. This unexpected bleeding can cause its own inconveniences.

Considerations for delaying periods

Whatever the reason for delaying your period, there are a few things you might want to keep in mind when deciding whether to delay your period, and which methods to use:

• Method: What methods are available to you? Medication like Norethisterone isn’t suitable for everyone, and not every woman can use the combined pill, so it’s important to understand what your options are.
• Side effects: Be aware of the potential side effects of whichever method you choose, such as breakthrough bleeding and hormonal changes.
• Frequency: How often do you want to delay your period? Is it a one-off thing, or will you want to do so regularly? This may affect which method you choose to use.
• Additional birth control: Remember that some methods for delaying periods don’t double up as birth control – so if you’re using medication to delay your period, then you may also want to use another method of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

It’s always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider before delaying your period. They’ll assess your specific medical needs and will be able to provide guidance on the most suitable method for you.

Potential risks of delaying a period

While delaying your period can seem like a convenient option if you’ve got a big day coming up, keep in mind that there are also potential side effects with taking norethisterone to delay your period. These include:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Sore/tender breasts
• Feeling nauseous 
• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Libido changes

It may also cause breakthrough bleeding. Breakthrough bleeding is an unexpected bleed that can occur on any type of hormonal birth control. This can happen when you run pill packets together but is also a common side effect of certain contraception, particularly some long-term birth control methods, like the hormonal IUD and implant.

While breakthrough bleeding can be a nuisance, it generally shouldn’t be a health concern. However, if you spot any changes or are worried about breakthrough bleeding or have any other questions about topics in this article, it’s always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional to learn more.

Get to know your cycle better

Thanks for reading up on how to delay your period! At Natural Cycles we’re passionate about learning about our bodies whether the topic is menstruation or menopause! Our app is the first of its kind to be cleared by the FDA for use as birth control in the US, and we’re certified in Europe too. 

As well as preventing pregnancy, Natural Cycles is a useful tool for learning the ins and outs of your cycle with period predictions, PMS alerts, and more - so you can get to know your body better and plan around the pattern of your cycle. On top of these useful insights, if and when you’re ready to start a family you can use the app to plan a pregnancy too! Why not find out if Natural Cycles could work for you today?