How to Delay Your Period
in a Safe, Effective Way

Written by Kathleen Morrison
Medically Reviewed by Andrea Sleeth WHNP-BC, MSCP

Key takeaways

• Period delay pills like Norethindrone work by keeping progesterone levels steady, preventing your period and easing related symptoms like cramps and bloating.
• Start taking the pill about three days before your expected period, continue daily until you’re ready, and your cycle resumes normally 2–4 days after stopping.
• Delay pills are safe, prescription-based, and trusted by medical providers—they’re not birth control, and Wisp doesn’t provide these treatments for more than one cycle at a time.
• Home remedies or “hacks” for delaying your period are unreliable and may not give consistent results.
• Natural or unintentional period delays can happen due to stress, illness, hormonal changes, medications, or pregnancy, but intentional, predictable results require clinically approved medication.

Sometimes it just feels like your period is out to ruin your plans. Whether you’re planning a trip, training for a competition, or prepping for a wedding, you definitely don’t want your period crashing the party. Rabbit-hole Googling may lead you to find some generic period delay info and a variety of home remedies, but be careful.

Most of these remedies have no guarantee of working, some are useless, and others could even be dangerous. Period delay pills are prescription medication that is a safe and effective way to delay your period.

Wisp treatment options are available only after consultation with a licensed medical professional. You should consult with your healthcare provider before starting a new supplement or treatment regimen. Individual results may vary.

How do delay period pills work?

Your body naturally produces progesterone as part of the menstrual cycle. When progesterone levels drop, it triggers the lining of the uterus to shed—your period. Period delay pills work by keeping progesterone levels high, so your period doesn’t get triggered.

Being able to control the timing of your period means you can plan your schedule without worrying about bleeding through outfits, or packing period supplies, and you may even be able to manage some of your PMS symptoms a little better.

A period delay isn’t just about the bleeding—these pills can also help postpone cramps, bloating, and fatigue. Sometimes those symptoms are more frustrating than the period itself!

What happens after you take Norethindrone:

• Day 1: Start taking the pill three days before your expected period. Progesterone levels stay steady, signaling your body to hold off menstruation.
• Day 2–20: Continue taking the pill daily until you’re ready for your period—you can either get a 10 or 20 day supply, depending on what you need. Symptoms like cramps and bloating are usually reduced or delayed along with bleeding.
• After stopping: Your period typically begins 2–4 days after your last dose, and your cycle resumes as normal.
  

When should I start to delay my period?

Be sure that you know your regular cycle.

Start to delay your period about three days before you expect your next cycle. Continue taking the pills until you’re ready to return to your normal cycle. Once you stop taking the pills, you can expect your period to start about three days later.

Is it safe to use period delay norethindrone pills to change my hormone cycle?

Norethindrone Acetate is the generic name of the delay period pills. This class of medication is called progestin, a form of the hormone progesterone that regulates ovulation and menstruation in your body.

Applied differently, this hormone is also used as a form of contraception. It does require a licensed medical provider's prescription, but has very few side effects, and is trusted by licensed medical providers to safely put off your period until a time that works for you.

Although the medication is similar to birth control medication, period delay pills are not birth control. These pills are not meant to be used for more than one cycle at a time.

Are home remedies to delay periods safe and effective?

We get it—sometimes you see all sorts of “tricks” online claiming they can stop your period naturally. From herbal teas to weird food hacks, it can be tempting to try anything for quick results.

But here’s the truth: these home remedies are usually unreliable and unpredictable. Your body’s hormone cycle is complex, and guessing at it rarely gives the consistent results you want.

If you’re looking to delay your period, it’s worth going with a method that actually works.

Norethindrone pills, prescribed by a licensed provider, give you predictable results (when you use them as directed) so you can plan around events without the guesswork. That way, you’re not stressing about whether your period will show up early—or late—while still staying safe and in control of your body.

What can delay a period naturally vs. intentionally

Periods can be unpredictable sometimes, and a lot of factors can throw your cycle off—without you even trying. Natural or unintentional delays might happen because of:

• Stress: High cortisol levels can interfere with hormones that trigger your period.
• Illness: Being sick or recovering from an infection can shift your cycle.
• Hormone fluctuations: Changes during puberty, menopause, or even due to birth control can affect timing.
• Pregnancy: A classic reason for a delayed or missed period.
• Medications: Some prescriptions can alter your cycle, including certain antibiotics, steroids, or thyroid meds.

On the flip side, if you’re trying to intentionally delay your period, the only clinically reliable method is Norethindrone Acetate, a prescription pill that keeps progesterone levels steady so your uterine lining doesn’t shed until you’re ready. Everything else—herbal remedies, teas, or “hacks”—is unpredictable at best.

The safest, most effective way to delay your period

Period delay pills are the safest and most effective way to control the stopping and starting of your period, but they do not stop ovulation, and so they don’t prevent pregnancy.

Connect with a Wisp licensed medical provider today to see if Norethindrone will work for you!

Wisp helps you get advice and prescriptions online discreetly and confidentially. Those medications will be shipped to your home for free or to your local pharmacy.

This blog post is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the information provided here.