Most of us have wanted to put off our periods at one time or another. Maybe you have an important event or competition coming up and you don’t want to deal with fatigue or cramps, or you’re going on a big trip and don’t want to have to plan for period products or bleeding on your outfits. While periods are totally normal, and the sign of a healthy reproductive system, they aren’t always necessary and it’s perfectly safe to skip them if you need to—and now you can with Norethindrone!

Norethindrone is a safe and effective way to delay your period for that event, trip, wedding, or honeymoon that you just don’t want to invite Aunt Flo to.

It gives you control over your cycle so you can enjoy the good times without fully committing to a birth control pill, or having to worry about inconvenient bleeding. If you haven’t heard of this medication before, you aren’t alone. Let’s get you the information you need to feel confident that it’s a good option for you.

How to Delay Your Period

Delaying your period is called menstrual manipulation or menstrual suppression—basically, postponing your period. There are a variety of different products that claim to do this, both natural and medicinal. While the effectiveness of natural remedies remains to be proven, there are hormonal options that have been shown to be highly effective at putting a stop to your period.

Norethindrone is one such option that can be prescribed by a licensed medical provider. It is a type of synthetic progesterone that mimics your body’s natural progesterone. During a normal menstrual cycle, your body decreases levels of both progesterone and estrogen, sending a signal to your uterus to start your period. Norethindrone artificially boosts your levels of progesterone so the signal to begin your period isn't sent. No signal means a delay of your period.

How do I get Norethindrone?

• Step one: Place an order for Norethindrone from Wisp and choose whether you want to pick up your meds from your pharmacy, or have them delivered to your door.
• Step two: Your Wisp provider will ensure the medication is safe for you to take before approving the prescription.
• Step three: Take Norethindrone as prescribed and say goodbye to dreading your period!

Important note: Hold onto the patient information leaflet that comes with your prescription and make sure you consult it as required.

How do I take Norethindrone?

Norethindrone comes in the form of tablets which must initially be taken three days before your period is supposed to start. Three tablets a day are taken for the duration of time you wish to delay your period. The tablets can be taken for a maximum of 17 days. Your skipped period will resume 2-4 days after the Norethindrone is stopped.

If you already received a prescription for Norethindrone, you can review the medication details here.

Are there side effects for Norethindrone?

As with all medication, there is a chance you may experience some side effects. These can include:

• Mood swings
• Fluid retention
• Mild acne
• Breast tenderness
• Headaches
• Loss of libido

Everyone responds differently to changes in their hormone cycle so you may experience all of these side effects, or none at all.

Is Norethindrone safe?

For most people who are looking to occasionally delay their period for a special event, norethindrone is a safe option. It’s a medication that is trusted by doctors and has been used for a long time as a form of birth control (you may have seen it under the brand name, Errin). The thing to keep in mind is that It is not intended to be a long-term solution for painful periods (you can consult with a Wisp doctor for that!). In exceedingly rare cases, there can be more serious side effects. To determine if norethindrone will work for you, consult with your doctor prior to use.