Delaying your period

You cannot delay a period with food, drinks, exercise or "natural" tricks, whatever the internet says. But there are medical options for some people, and they need planning ahead.

Option 1: the combined pill

The NHS says it is possible to delay your period if you take the combined contraceptive pill. How you do it depends on your type of pill, so speak to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic first. If you do not already take the pill, you would need to start it a few weeks before the date you want to delay. Some people on the 21-day pill choose a shorter break, fewer breaks or no break at all. The NHS calls this a tailored regime. The bleed you get in the pill-free break is a withdrawal bleed, not a true period.

Option 2: norethisterone

If you do not want to take the pill, a GP can prescribe a medicine called norethisterone to delay your period. The NHS says it is not suitable for everyone, so it needs a prescription and a chat about your health and other medicines.

What to expect

• Plan ahead. Both options need to start before your period is due, not once it has begun.
• Changing how you take hormones can change your bleeding pattern, including spotting. A clinician can tell you what to expect with your method.
• After you stop, your period will usually arrive within days. Your clinician will tell you what is typical for your method.
• Delaying is a personal choice. There is no medical need to have a period "every month" on a schedule.