Period Delay Pills Singapore
Conveniently located in Tanjong Pagar, Orchard, Jurong East & Novena
Medically Reviewed By: Dr Jana Lim, Board-Accredited Family Physician
Board-Accredited Family Physician | MBChB, MMed (FM)
MBChB, MMed (FM) | Last updated:
What Are Period Delay Pills?
Period delay pills are prescription tablets that postpone your period for a short time, so that bleeding does not start during a holiday, wedding or other event you have planned.
The tablets contain a hormone that keeps the lining of your womb in place for as long as you take them. Stopping the tablets lets the lining shed, and your period follows.
Other names for period delay pills include period delay tablets and delay menses pills.
Which Medicine Is Used to Delay Periods?
Norethisterone is the medicine commonly prescribed to delay periods in Singapore, and it is available only with a doctor's prescription. It is a man-made (synthetic) form of progesterone, the female hormone that controls the timing of your menstrual cycle.
If you are looking for the best pill to delay your period, norethisterone is the one usually prescribed. Even so, it may not suit everyone, depending on your health and the other medicines you take.
How Do Period Delay Pills Work?
Period delay pills work by keeping the level of progesterone in your body high, which stops the lining of your womb from shedding.
In a normal menstrual cycle, your progesterone level falls in the days before your period. This drop causes the womb to shed its lining, and the bleeding that follows is your period.
Norethisterone acts like progesterone in your body. Taking it every day keeps your hormone level high, so the drop does not happen and the lining stays in place. Your hormone level falls once you stop taking the tablets, and the lining then sheds as your period.
Delaying Your Period for a Holiday, Wedding or Umrah
Period delay pills are commonly taken for planned events such as holidays and overseas travel, weddings and honeymoons, and business trips. Some people also use them around sports events and competitions, or during religious pilgrimages such as Umrah.
Period delay pills are sometimes called the "honeymoon pill" because of their use around weddings.
The tablets need to be started before your period is due, so it helps to book a consultation as soon as you know your dates and roughly when you expect your next period. If you cannot visit a clinic before you leave, you can have a teleconsultation and get the tablets delivered to you.
How to Take Period Delay Pills
Period delay pills are generally started a few days before your period is due and then taken every day for as long as you want to delay it.
The exact schedule can differ depending on your health and your cycle, so your doctor can give you personalised instructions on when to start and stop.
When Should You Start Taking Period Delay Pills?
Period delay pills usually need to be started at least three days before your period is due. These three days give your hormone level time to rise high enough to hold the lining of the womb in place.
Starting later, or after bleeding has already begun, may not delay your period.
What Is the Dosage to Delay a Period?
The dosage to delay a period depends on the medicine you are prescribed, your health and how many days you need to delay your period. The tablets are usually taken every day at set times, and your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take and for how long.
How Long Can You Delay Your Period?
Norethisterone, the medicine commonly used to delay periods, can be taken for up to 3 to 4 weeks if needed. The length that suits you depends on your plans and your health, so your doctor can advise how long you should take the tablets.
After you stop, your period usually starts within a few days.
Period Delay Pill vs Morning-After Pill: What Is the Difference?
A period delay pill postpones your period, while the morning-after pill is emergency contraception that lowers the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex.
| Comparison | Period Delay Pill | Morning-After Pill |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Postpones your period around a planned event | Lowers the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex |
| How it works | Keeps your progesterone level high, so the lining of your womb stays in place | Delays or stops ovulation (the release of an egg) |
| When you take it | Every day, starting a few days before your period is due | After unprotected sex, for occasional use only |
| Protection against pregnancy | None, so you still need to use contraception while taking it | For emergency use only, not as regular contraception |
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Period Delay Pills?
Period delay pills are generally well tolerated when taken for a short time, but they can cause side effects in some people.
Common side effects of period delay pills may include:
- Nausea
- Stomach discomfort
- Bloating
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Breast tenderness
A serious allergic reaction is uncommon, but it can show as difficulty breathing, swelling, itching or a rash on the body. In that case, stop taking the tablets and seek medical attention straight away.
Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of side effects. The information here does not replace professional medical advice, so ask a doctor about your concerns before you start a new medicine.
Who Should Not Take Period Delay Pills?
Period delay pills may not be suitable for everyone, and some people need to avoid them or take them only under close medical supervision.
This includes people who:
- Are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
- Are allergic to norethisterone or any ingredient in the tablets
- Are currently taking other medicines
- Have, or have had, liver problems, a stroke, heart disease, blood clots, migraines, epilepsy (seizures), diabetes or cancer
Not sure whether period delay pills suit you, or when to start them before your trip? Book a consultation or teleconsultation with our women's health doctors to review your health and plan the timing.
Can You Delay Your Period Naturally?
Diet changes, exercise, stress management and particular foods or drinks are not a reliable way to delay your period naturally. None of these has been shown to postpone a period to a set date.
For a specific event, period delay pills taken under medical guidance are the commonly used option instead.
Can You Buy Period Delay Pills Over the Counter in Singapore?
Period delay pills are not available over the counter in Singapore, and you need a doctor's prescription to get them. This means retail pharmacies can supply them only against a prescription.
You need to be assessed by a doctor as medically suitable before period delay pills can be prescribed.
"Period delay pills let you plan your period around your life, instead of planning your life around your period. With a little preparation, you can give your full attention to what matters to you during that time."
Dr Jana Lim
What Is the Cost of Period Delay Pills in Singapore?
At Singapore Women's Clinic, we offer period delay pills, contraceptive pills and pregnancy testing, with consultation at our clinics or by teleconsultation. Prices are as follows:
| Treatment / Test | Price* |
|---|---|
| Consultation | From $49.05 |
| Teleconsultation | From $38.15 |
| Period Delay Pill (Norethisterone 5 mg) | $0.76 per tab |
| Contraceptive Pills | |
| Birth Control Pill (Drospirenone and Ethinylestradiol) | $43.60 (per box of 40 tablets) |
| Morning-After Pill (Ulipristal Acetate) | $43.60 |
| Pregnancy Test | |
| Pregnancy Blood Test (Beta hCG) | $38.15 |
*All prices are NETT and inclusive of GST.
Payment Options We Accept
At Singapore Women's Clinic, we also provide women's health services such as pap smears, hormone tests and menopause care, which you can discuss at the same visit.
