Period Delay in Holborn, London — from £19.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a pharmacist-led period delay service at our GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1 — around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. If you want to delay your period for a holiday, an exam, a wedding or a religious occasion, you can start online or visit us in person. A pharmacist checks your cycle, health and medicines before supplying norethisterone, in English or Chinese (中文).
Period delay at a glance
| Treatment options | Norethisterone 5mg tablets (prescription-only, supplied under a Patient Group Direction after pharmacist assessment) |
|---|---|
| Price | £19.99 for 30 tablets · £34.99 for 60 tablets · no consultation fee · full refund if no medicine is supplied |
| Who it is for | Women aged 16 and over with a regular cycle who want to delay a period for a short time |
| How it works | Online questionnaire, ID check and a phone or video call with a pharmacist — or a face-to-face consultation at the pharmacy |
| Pharmacist assessment | Cycle dates, pregnancy risk, blood clot risk, liver health, migraine, current medicines |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start a period delay consultation or call 020 8106 7084.
Treatment options and prices
| Option | What it is | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norethisterone 5mg — 30 tablets | A progestogen tablet taken three times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due. 30 tablets cover 10 days in total — about 7 days of delay. | £19.99 | Norethisterone 5mg |
| Norethisterone 5mg — 60 tablets | For a longer delay. 60 tablets cover 20 days in total — about 17 days of delay. | £34.99 | Norethisterone 5mg |
Your period usually starts 2 to 3 days after you stop the tablets. Norethisterone is for short-term, occasional use and is not a contraceptive — use condoms or your usual contraception if you could become pregnant.
Who can use this service
- Women aged 16 and over who want to delay a period for a specific reason
- A regular cycle, and you know when your next period is due
- Able to start the tablets at least 3 days before your period is due — the tablets cannot stop a period that has already started. Order in good time so the tablets arrive before you need to start, or collect from Holborn once your order is approved.
- No chance that you are already pregnant
- If you are 16 or 17, a parent or guardian must join the video call
If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you may be able to delay a period by taking packs back to back instead — ask the pharmacist, or see our contraceptive pill service.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
The pharmacist will not supply norethisterone, and will suggest you see your GP, if:
- You are or might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- Your periods are irregular or you cannot work out when the next one is due
- You have unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex
- You have had a blood clot (DVT or pulmonary embolism), or have a high risk of clots
- You have liver disease, or have had breast cancer or another hormone-sensitive cancer
- You have high blood pressure, migraine with aura, or diabetes affecting your blood vessels
- You need to delay periods often — repeated use needs a medical review
Call 999 or go to A&E if, while taking norethisterone, you get chest pain, sudden breathlessness, a painful swollen leg, a sudden severe headache or changes in your sight. Seek medical advice if you have no period within a few days of stopping the tablets, as you may need a pregnancy test.
How it works
- Choose and pay. Choose the norethisterone pack that covers the length of delay you need and pay online, or call 020 8106 7084.
- Complete an online health questionnaire and confirm your identity. After payment you fill in a health questionnaire, including your cycle dates. We confirm your identity by an upload of photo ID, or by checking your ID during a video call.
- Pharmacist speaks with you by phone or video. The pharmacist confirms the timing is right and norethisterone is safe for you, and explains exactly when to start and stop. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must join the video call.
- If suitable, we post your medicine or you collect it; if not, you get a full refund. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are posted the same day — see our shipping information for delivery charges. Or collect from the Holborn pharmacy once your order is approved. If treatment is not suitable, including when the pharmacist gives advice only, you receive a full refund.
If the medicine you chose is not suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option or give you a full refund.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Clear pack prices and a pharmacist who works out the right start date with you
- Collection from 77 Southampton Row, near Holborn and Russell Square stations — useful if you are travelling soon
- Consultation in Chinese (中文) or English by a GPhC-registered pharmacist
- Related women's health services: contraceptive pill and UTI treatment
Frequently asked questions
How much does period delay cost at Ways Pharmacy?
Norethisterone 5mg costs £19.99 for 30 tablets or £34.99 for 60 tablets. It is supplied only after a pharmacist assessment.
When should I start taking norethisterone?
At least 3 days before your period is due. Take one tablet three times a day, at evenly spaced times, for as long as you want to delay your period.
How long can I delay my period?
It is intended for short-term use. The maximum is 30 days of treatment, including the 3 days before your period is due — a delay of up to about 27 days. Most people need much less; the pharmacist will advise on the right amount for your plans.
When will my period come after I stop?
Usually within 2 to 3 days of taking the last tablet.
Is norethisterone a contraceptive?
No. It does not prevent pregnancy. Use condoms or your usual contraception.
What are the side effects?
Nausea, headache, breast tenderness, bloating and mood changes are the most common. Blood clots are rare, but get urgent help for leg pain or swelling, chest pain or breathlessness.
Can I start once my period has begun?
No. Norethisterone will not stop a period that has already started, which is why it must be started at least 3 days beforehand.
Can I use it every month?
No. It is for occasional use. If you want to control your periods regularly, speak to the pharmacist or your GP about other options.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
