Norethisterone

Norethisterone, also known as norethindrone and sold under the name Primolut N, is a prescription treatment used to delay your period. It is a synthetic progesterone that can prevent your period for up to 14 days.

It's a great treatment option if you're going on holiday or have an important occasion coming up, and you don't want to have to worry about getting your period.

Whilst most commonly used for period delay, it can also be prescribed long-term for painful periods (dysmenorrhoea), endometriosis, and the late stages of breast cancer when prescribed and authorised by your regular doctor.

Norethisterone is a synthetic version of progesterone, a group of medicines known as progestins. It works by altering one's natural menstrual cycle. It is the same active ingredient that is in the progestogen-only contraceptive pill Noriday.

• Your hormone levels naturally rise and fall throughout your menstrual cycle, signalling different reproductive system processes.
• The job of progesterone is to prepare your uterus (womb) lining for pregnancy so a fertilised egg can implant itself.
• When there's no egg, progesterone levels fall and the uterus lining sheds, this is what causes your period.
• When you take Norethisterone, this alters your progesterone levels. It supplements progesterone levels where it would normally fall. This means that your uterus lining does not shed and it means you do not get a period.

However, it is designed to prevent a period and does not prevent pregnancy. If you do not want to get pregnant, you should use barrier contraception (like condoms) whilst taking Norethisterone to prevent pregnancy.

There are several benefits of taking Norethisterone for period delay:

• It allows flexibility - you don’t have to worry about your period on your holiday or during any big occasion.
• It’s available for people not on hormonal contraception - you can delay your period even if you are not on a regular hormonal contraceptive.
• Doesn’t affect your periods long-term - 2-3 days after treatment, your period should restart.
• Few side effects - Norethisterone is unlikely to cause side effects, especially with short-term use.

You can be assured knowing that Norethisterone is a safe, clinically proven and effective prescription method for delaying your period.

Studies have shown that Norethisterone is an effective way to delay your period.

One particular study published in 2019 found that women who took Norethisterone more successfully delayed their period than those who took combined oral contraceptive pills.

In addition, found that only 8% of women on Norethisterone experience spotting, compared to 43% of women taking the pill. The study also found that Norethisterone had an 80% satisfaction rate compared to the pill for period delay.

What dosage should I use?

The dose for period delay is 5mg.

To delay your period, you will need to take one 5mg tablet 3 times a day. You should start taking it at least 3 days before your period is due.

How to take it

Take each tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not break, chew or split tablets.

When to take it

You should take Norethisterone when you want to delay your period. It may be for a special occasion, a holiday or a sporting event.

You should start taking it 3 days before your period is due to start.

How long do I take it for?

You can take Norethisterone for up to 14 days, including the 3 days before your period starts.

Your period should start within 3 days of finishing treatment.

When can I retake it?

You should wait a minimum of 14 days before starting a new course of period-delay treatment.

What to do if I miss a dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.

Do not take a double dose to make up for it. If it is nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the regular time.

If you take more tablets than you should, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Norethisterone is suitable for fertile women who want to delay their period in the short term. It is safe for most women to take but always check with a healthcare professional first.

Who cannot take it

Some women should not take Norethisterone for period delay, as they may be more at risk of side effects. This includes women who have:

• a history of blood clots
• undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
• acute porphyria (a group of rare conditions)
• breast cancer
• a history of jaundice during pregnancy
• a history of pemphigoid gestationis (a condition that causes a severely itchy rash during pregnancy caused by herpes)
• an allergy to Norethisterone or any of the inactive ingredients

If you are unsure whether this applies to you, ask your doctor before using this medicine.

Cautions

Other women may be able to take it, but your doctor may need to check if it’s safe for you to take. This includes women who have:

• an increased risk of developing blood clots (e.g. smoking, drinking, being overweight or over 35)
• a heart problem that could lead to heart failure
• conditions that may get worse with fluid retention
• diabetes
• a history of breast cancer
• high blood pressure
• liver tumours
• migraines
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• rheumatoid arthritis
• positive antiphospholipid antibodies (abnormal antibodies produced by the body’s immune system that increase the risk of blood clots)
• malabsorption syndrome (digestive disorder)

Ask your doctor if you are unsure whether these factors apply to you.

Our doctors at euroClinix will be able to know if it’s suitable for you when you complete our consultation form about your medical history before prescribing you the medication.

Norethisterone causes few side effects.

One of the most common side effects is menstrual cycle irregularities. However, your periods should become more regular once you finish treatment.

If you don’t get your period once you have finished treatment, take a pregnancy test and consult your doctor.

Uncommon side effects

Uncommon side effects affect 1 in every 100 people who take this medicine.

One uncommon side effect you may experience is breast tenderness. This occurs due to the medicine affecting your progesterone levels.

This should go away on its own once you finish treatment. However, consult your doctor if breast tenderness persists.

Rare side effects

The following side effects are rare, so much so that their frequency is unknown.

Serious rare side effects may include a blood clot. This will cause swelling and redness in the leg (if the blood clot is in the leg). Alternatively, it can cause symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath (if the blood clot is in the lung.)

Another rare side effect is an allergic reaction. If you develop an allergic reaction, you may experience swelling of the face or wheezing.

These side effects are potentially life-threatening and require immediate medical attention.

There is also a slightly increased risk of breast cancer when taking Norethisterone. The risk increase is very small, but your doctor will still need to decide if this medicine is right for you if you are at a higher risk of breast cancer.

Norethisterone can interact with other medicines you take.

If you take a combined hormonal contraceptive already, you do not need to take Norethisterone to delay your period. You can simply skip the 7-day break and take it back to back. This includes the combined contraceptive pill, patch or NuvaRing.

You should also ask your doctor before taking Norethisterone if you also take:

• other hormonal medicines such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause or emergency contraception
• medicines for diabetes
• medicines for epilepsy
• medicines to treat tuberculosis
• griseofulvin - an antifungal medicine
• St John’s Wort - a herbal remedy
• nevirapine - used to treat viral infections
• ciclosporin - a medicine used to prevent organ rejection after a transplant

Ask your doctor if you are unsure. For a full list of interactions find out more here.

How do I store Norethisterone?

This medicine does not have any specific storage requirements. However, you should keep it out of sight and reach of children.

You should also not use it past the expiry date. You can see the expiry date on the medicine carton after EXP. The date refers to the last day of the month.

Do not discard expired medicines in general waste or the toilet. This is bad for the environment. Take your expired medicines to your local pharmacy to dispose.

No, Norethisterone is not available over the counter. It is only available via prescription from a registered doctor. This is so the doctor can ensure the medicine is safe for you to use. However, if you cannot get to your GP, you can get a prescription from an online healthcare provider such as euroClinix.

Ordering Norethisterone through euroClinix is simple and secure. Follow these steps:

• Start a confidential online questionnaire from the top of this page. Completing it takes about 5-10 minutes.
• A UK-registered doctor will review your consultation.
• If approved, the doctor will issue an electronic prescription.
• A licensed UK pharmacy sends your medication in discreet packaging. The pharmacy will also share tracking information. You get free with next-day delivery.

euroClinix offers ongoing support for any questions. Privacy and security are guaranteed through compliance with the relevant regulatory standards and the use of encrypted transactions.

euroClinix is a trusted online clinic that offers services in several European countries. All consultations and prescriptions are handled by our UK-registered doctors.

The process is convenient with online consultations and discreet home delivery. Our friendly customer service team is always happy to assist with any questions related to our services.

The euroClinix platform is user-friendly for managing prescriptions and reorders securely.

Choosing euroClinix ensures a trusted, professional, and supportive service to delay your period.

Norethisterone is the only available treatment prescribed solely for period delay.

The only other way to delay your period is by using combined hormonal contraception like the pill, patch or ring.

However, if you don’t want to take hormonal contraception, Norethisterone is a good alternative to delay your period.