Norethisterone / Utovlan
Norethisterone works by keeping levels of the female hormone progesterone high. This in turn stops your womb lining from shedding and causes your period to be delayed.
Norethisterone is a synthetic version of the natural hormone progesterone. Norethisterone is not a method of contraception. It is therefore important that you should continue to use contraceptive methods if you do not want to become pregnant.
Most brands of the pill (combined pill), can delay your period if packs are taken back to back. This will not work if you have just started taking the pill - norethisterone should be used to delay your period instead.
The mechanism of how the pill works in preventing a period is the same as with norethisterone. It keeps levels of the female hormone high, thus preventing shedding from the womb.
You can take Norethisterone for up to 20 days in total, meaning that you can delay your period for around 17 days. If your menstrual cycle is regular, you can predict when your next period is due. You need to start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start. Your period will usually start 3 days after you stop taking the tablets.
Combined oral contraceptives that can be taken back to back to prevent your period include popular brands such as:
- Microgynon
- Rigevidon
- Cilest
- Yasmin
The progestogen-only pill (POP), also known as the mini-pill, cannot delay periods when taken back to back.
