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Janie  Asks...

dear q2a
I am going on a holiday next week and my period is due. Is there any way i could postpone it? Maybe get some pills or something or I need to go to the doctors and get an advice

Thanks

What we suggest...

Hi Janie

Thanks for sending us your enquiry,

You'll be pleased to know that the answer is yes, you are able to delay your periods and it is common for many women to query this with their gp.

Just to go over a few basics - if you are currently not using the pill then the only thing that can delay your periods is additional hormones to confuse your body clock. If your doctor agrees he/she will be able to prescribe you the contraceptive pill. The problem with this maybe that it might not keep your period away on the days you want there to be no bleeding. Secondly, the contraceptive pill comes with risks which can include things like heart attack and stroke. Although the chances of this are very minimal and not very likely its something you may wish to read up on before making a decision.

You can look up more information on the different types of pill on www.netdoctor.co.uk or alternatively discuss the disadvantages with your doctor, (for future reference).

If you are already taking the contraceptive pill then it is much simpler to avoid a period at the due time. this is done by taking one packet back to back with another one. Realistically in both scenarios the pill would really need to be started one to two months before necessary, to be really effective.

But you tell us in your email that you are about to go on holiday next week and this is when your period is likely to be due so there is not a lot of time to change things. However your doctor can prescribe you a treatment (which is not available over the counter), and its called norethisterone which will stop your period. It's to be taken three times a day, starting just before you are due and can be taken for as long as you want the period to be delayed for. Once you stop taking the treatment your period will begin. Both the pill and the norethisterone are available on the NHS but as we've stated, the pill really needs to be started much earlier.

We hope we've explained as best as we can, best wishes and have a good holiday

q2a

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