Period Delay

YOUR PLANS, YOUR TIMING

A holiday, a wedding, an exam or a pilgrimage. Sometimes your period is simply due at the wrong moment. Fill out a confidential online form and a UK-registered prescriber will review it. If approved, your treatment is dispensed by our GPhC-registered pharmacy and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start your free online form Takes a few minutes and is reviewed by a UK prescriber. Treatment is supplied only if approved.
  • Fill out a short form
  • Reviewed by a prescriber
  • Delivered if approved
  • GPhC-registered pharmacy
  • Confidential plain packaging

The condition

Understanding period delay

Period delay treatment lets you postpone your period when it clashes with something important. It uses a prescription tablet containing a synthetic version of a natural hormone, which keeps the lining of the womb stable while you take it. You start a few days before your period is due, and your period usually arrives within a few days of your last dose.

It is designed for occasional use, and it is not a contraceptive, so you can still become pregnant while taking it. It is not suitable for everyone, including women with a history of blood clots, which is why a prescriber reviews your health before any supply. Used appropriately, it is a well-established way to keep your plans on your terms.

Know the signs

When period delay can help

Women use period delay for all sorts of reasons, and yours does not need justifying. Common occasions include the following.

  • Holidays, travel and honeymoons
  • Weddings and special occasions
  • Exams, sporting events and big work moments
  • Religious reasons, such as Hajj, Umrah or Ramadan

When to see a doctor

Period delay is not the right answer to every period problem. See your GP if any of the following apply, as they need proper assessment.

  • Very heavy, prolonged or irregular periods
  • Bleeding between periods or after sex
  • Severe period pain that disrupts your daily life
  • A missed period or any chance you could be pregnant
  • A personal or family history of blood clots

While taking any hormonal treatment, call 999 if you develop sudden chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or pain and swelling in one leg, as these can be signs of a blood clot. For urgent advice that is not an emergency, call NHS 111.

Our clinic model

How it works at Medicosmetic

Fill out a short medical form

Answer a confidential set of health questions online. It takes a few minutes and can be done in private, at any time. We carry out identity checks to keep the service safe.

Reviewed by a UK-registered prescriber

A prescriber reviews your health history and your dates, and approves treatment only if it is clinically appropriate for you. They may ask follow-up questions or advise that it is not suitable.

Delivered discreetly if approved

Once approved, your treatment is checked and dispensed by our pharmacist at Erdington Community Pharmacy, then posted in plain, unbranded packaging with tracking.

Order in good time, ideally at least a week before your period is due, so your treatment arrives before you need to start it. We encourage you to let your GP know about any treatment you receive, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied.

Start your form

Evidence-based options

Treatment approaches

Period delay uses a prescription tablet containing a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. You take it three times a day, starting three days before your period is due, and keep taking it for as long as you want to delay, up to a clinically agreed maximum. Your period usually returns within a few days of stopping. It is not a contraceptive, and it is not suitable for everyone, including women with a history of blood clots or certain other conditions, which is why a clinical review matters.

If you already take a combined contraceptive pill, you may be able to delay your period by running packs together instead, without extra medicine. Ask our pharmacy team or your prescriber, who will advise on the safest approach for your situation.

Compare your options

Treatment options and pricing

The treatment is the same in each case. The difference is simply how long you want to delay for, which determines the pack size. The comparison below is factual information to help you choose a preferred option in your form. Your prescriber approves supply only if it is clinically appropriate for you.

Short delay, up to 7 days

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenOne tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due
  • Starts workingKeeps working while you take it
  • LastsPeriod usually returns 2 to 3 days after stopping

Ideal for a long weekend, an event or an exam.

Check my suitability

Up to 2 weeks

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenOne tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due
  • Starts workingKeeps working while you take it
  • LastsPeriod usually returns 2 to 3 days after stopping

Covers most holidays and trips away.

Check my suitability

Maximum delay, up to 17 days

From £XX including consultation and delivery

  • How it's takenOne tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due
  • Starts workingKeeps working while you take it
  • LastsPeriod usually returns 2 to 3 days after stopping

The longest delay usually prescribed, suited to longer travel or Hajj and Umrah.

Check my suitability

Prices shown include the consultation, prescription, dispensing and delivery. Treatment is supplied only if approved by a UK-registered prescriber following your online form. Supply is never guaranteed, and you are not charged for medicine that is not supplied. Information above is factual and does not replace clinical advice.

Trusted care

Why Medicosmetic

GPhC-registered pharmacy

Medicosmetic is a trading name of Erdington Community Pharmacy (Premises No. 1107990). Verify on the GPhC register.

Named Superintendent Pharmacist

Mohammad Luqman Ghani (GPhC 2220694) oversees our pharmacy services.

UK-registered prescribers

Every form is reviewed by a clinician registered to prescribe in the UK.

Genuine UK-sourced medicines

Dispensed by our own pharmacy, never third-party marketplaces.

Discreet by design

Plain packaging, tracked delivery, and confidential handling of your information.

Straightforward next steps

If treatment is not suitable, we explain why and signpost you to the right care, usually your GP.

Common questions

Period delay FAQs

How does period delay work?
Period delay treatment uses a prescription tablet containing a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. Taken three times a day from three days before your period is due, it keeps the lining of the womb stable so your period does not start. Once you stop, your period usually arrives within two to three days.
How long can I delay my period?
Most women delay for anywhere between a few days and around two weeks, and up to 17 days is the longest delay usually prescribed. Your prescriber confirms what is appropriate for you based on your dates and health. Period delay is designed for occasional use rather than back-to-back months.
Is it safe to delay your period?
For most healthy women, occasional period delay is well tolerated, and it has been used for many years. It is not suitable for everyone, including women with a history of blood clots and certain other conditions, and side effects such as bloating, breast tenderness or mood changes can occur. That is why a UK-registered prescriber reviews your health before any supply.
Is period delay treatment a contraceptive?
No. Period delay treatment does not prevent pregnancy, and you can conceive while taking it. If there is any chance you could be pregnant, do not take it and speak to a clinician. If you need contraception as well, use your usual method and mention it in your form so the prescriber has the full picture.
When should I start taking it?
You start three days before your period is due, so it is important to order in good time. We recommend completing your form at least a week before your period is expected, so your treatment arrives with time to spare. If your cycle is irregular, tell the prescriber and they will advise.
Can I delay my period for Hajj, Umrah or Ramadan?
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons women use period delay, and it is entirely valid. Plan ahead, because pilgrimage travel dates are fixed and treatment needs to start three days before your period is due. Complete your form in good time and note your travel dates so the prescriber can confirm the right duration.
What if I am already on the contraceptive pill?
If you take a combined pill, you may be able to delay your period by running two packs together, without any extra medicine. This does not apply to every type of pill, so check with our pharmacy team or your prescriber first. Mention your pill in your form and we will advise on the safest approach.

Ready to start? It begins with a short form

Fill out a confidential medical form, choose your preferred treatment and, if approved by our prescriber, have it dispensed by our pharmacist and delivered discreetly to your door.

Start your free online form