Norethisterone

Norethisterone is an unbranded medication that contains the active ingredient norethisterone. This is a type of medication known as a progestogen and it works very similarly to the natural hormone in your body called progesterone. It can be used to delay your period,which can be helpful if you have an important exam or are going on holiday.

Norethisterone can also be found under the branded name Utovlan. Asda Online Doctor has both norethisterone and Utovlan.

Norethisterone contains a progestogen, which works very similarly to the female hormone progesterone. Usually, during your menstrual cycle, your progesterone levels drop when you are due to start your period. This causes the lining of your womb to shed, which causes bleeding. When you take norethisterone tablets before your period it replaces your natural progesterone, meaning your period will be delayed until you stop taking it.

Norethisterone cannot be taken if you are also on the combined oral contraceptive pill. In this case, the combined contraceptive pill can be used to delay your period instead. Norethisterone should not be taken if you have a history of blood clots.

When taking norethisterone tablets to delay your period, you should start taking it 3 days before your period. It can be helpful to keep a diary or use a menstrual calculator to work out when your next period is due. Norethisterone 5mg tablets should be taken 3 times a day, at regular intervals, for a total daily dose of 15mg. When your treatment is finished, your period should start after 2 to 3 days.

If you forget your norethisterone tablets, take your medication as soon as you remember. You can then carry on as normal but you should not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Most women can safely take norethisterone. You should not take norethisterone if you are using the combined oral contraceptive pill. Norethisterone can increase your risk of blood clots, so you should not use this if you have a higher risk of blood clots. You might have a higher risk of blood clots if you have a family or personal history of blood clots, or if you smoke and are overweight or are over 35 years of age. If you have a history of high blood pressure or some other health conditions you might not be able to use norethisterone.

Our doctors will make sure norethisterone is suitable for you before prescribing it. There are some medications or medical conditions that may make norethisterone unsuitable or less effective in delaying your period. We have other period delay treatments available if norethisterone is not suitable.

Norethisterone can be taken by women looking to delay their period for up to 17 days. Like all medications, norethisterone can have some side effects. When using it for period delay, side effects are less frequent as you are only taking the medication for a short amount of time. You can speak to your doctor if you get norethisterone side effects and they bother you a lot.

You must stop taking norethisterone and call 999 or visit A&E straight away if you get:

• a severe allergic reaction, which can cause swelling, wheezing, and difficulty breathing
• symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), such as pain or swelling in your leg, ankle, or foot, and discolouration in your leg
• symptoms of a blood clot, which could cause dizziness, sharp pains in your chest, and weakness

Norethisterone can cause some side effects, including:

• unusual vaginal discharge
• bleeding or spotting from your vagina
• breast tenderness and pain
• milky discharge from your nipples when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• changes in mood, such as depression, nervousness, or intense happiness (euphoria)
• tiredness
• dizziness
• headache
• problems with your vision
• difficulty concentrating
• problems with your liver
• jaundice, which can cause yellow skin and eyes
• constipation or diarrhoea
• dry mouth
• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)
• changes in blood test results
• changes in blood sugar, especially in diabetic patients
• problems with your heart
• increased blood pressure
• increased heart rate
• acne
• an increase in body or facial hair or hair loss
• rash or itchy skin
• fever
• changes in appetite
• changes in sex drive
• fluid retention (oedema)

For a full list of norethisterone side effects, you can check the patient information leaflet in your medication or read it online here.

You should not take norethisterone for period delay if you:

• have problems with your liver
• are allergic to norethisterone
• are pregnant or trying for a baby
• have porphyria
• have pruritus
• have been pregnant before and had an itchy rash called pemphigoid gestationis or jaundice
• have or have ever had angina or a heart attack
• have or have ever had a DVT or a family history of DVT
• have ever had unexplained vaginal bleeding

You should talk to your doctor before using norethisterone for period delay if you have:

• kidney problems
• heart problems
• asthma
• migraines
• epilepsy

If you are breastfeeding, you can speak to your doctor about alternative treatments or whether you can feed your baby another way.

Before taking norethisterone, you should let your doctor know if you use any medications, especially:

• high blood pressure treatment
• non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
• ciclosporin, for the immune system
• aminoglutethimide, used for Cushing’s syndrome
• St John’s wort, a herbal remedy
• anticancer medications
• HIV antiviral medications, such as ritonavir
• antibiotics
• epilepsy medication, such as carbamazepine

Norethisterone is an effective treatment for delaying your period if started at the right time and taken as directed. It should not be used as contraception and you must use another form of contraception, like a condom, if you have sex. It works best when taken as prescribed. Our doctors will make sure norethisterone is suitable for you, as this will improve its effectiveness.

Yes, norethisterone is a prescription only medication so you must speak to a doctor before getting it. You can get norethisterone online through our Asda Online Doctor service.

As well as norethisterone, we have Utovlan which is a branded version of norethisterone. This means it contains the same active ingredient and works the same way to delay your period. If norethisterone is not suitable, we also have Provera which is another period delay tablet.

Provera contains the active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is also a progestogen. This works like norethisterone to delay your period by acting like progesterone in your body. It can be prescribed to delay your period and is suitable if you have a history of blood clots.

If you take the combined oral contraceptive pill, this can be used to delay your periods by taking it back to back. The combined oral contraceptive pill can delay your period for a month until your next break between packs. You might notice some light bleeding or spotting if you take your pill back to back for more than 2 months in a row. You cannot delay your period with the progesterone only contraceptive pill.