Written by Dr Karen Morton, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and founder of Dr Morton’s – the medical helpline

See Dr Morton’s Gynae Travel Pack^© and vaccinations and travel medicine

manage periods and understand endometriosis

How to delay your period

Many women have never considered the fact that we are simply female mammals who are able to control our fertility and hence have far more periods than any mammal in the wild – which is probably not altogether good for us. Certain gynaecological conditions are even specifically attributable to the large number of periods we have, such as endometriosis. I often say to patients that; “if you were a bunny rabbit in the wild you would either be pregnant or breast feeding all your little bunny rabbit life” and actually that is much more the norm than what humans do.

But for many women having a period while travelling can be a real hindrance. Whether they are trekking in the jungle or on a romantic break a period is often the last thing they want.

If women are taking a combined oral contraceptive pill either for contraceptive reasons or for period troubles and if the pill is the same strength throughout the packet (some contraceptive pills use different strength tablets within the packet) then they can go straight from one packet to the next and miss a period entirely. This is completely safe as indeed the periods we get when we take the Pill are completely artificial anyway.

Many girls take 2 or 3 packets on the trot all the time and that is fine

Certain other hormonal methods of contraception may also stop periods completely. For example certain progesterone only pills, progesterone injections, progesterone implants or intrauterine systems will more often than not stop periods whilst a woman is using them. Periods will return when use is discontinued or a device is removed.

What about women who are not taking anything? Do they simply have to put up with a period whilst they are climbing Kilimanjaro or swimming with hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos? No. As long as they are healthy with no risk factors for deep vein thrombosis, they can very easily stop a period from coming by taking a short course of a hormone tablet called Norethisterone.

This medicine has been around for donkey’s years and was in years gone by used to prevent women from having a period on their wedding night. It is also very useful for older women whose periods have become unpredictable around the time of the menopause, as it will stop the sort of ghastly heavy bleeding that can occur then. Norethisterone can be a lifesaver and if you love travelling it is worth having a packet.

Be in control. Think ahead!

Updated March 1 2020

--> Written by Dr Karen Morton, Consultant Gynaecologist and Obstetrician and founder of Dr Morton’s – the medical helpline See Dr Morton’s Gynae Travel Pack© and vaccinations and travel medicine manage periods and understand endometriosis How to delay your period Many women have never considered the fact that we are simply female mammals who are able to control our fertility and […]