For those who have taken a pill to delay their period (question)

I was in agony when my period started. Absolute agony. Woke up at 4am, and spent the next twelve hours curled into a ball, surrounded by hot water bottles and medicated up to my eyeballs.
So yeh, wasn't a great experience for me, but I know it;s quite unusual to be in that level of pain afterwards...most people are fine.

Ah right, well if that's the case you're definitely better off asking your GP about it. I'm sure it'll be fine, if not there might be different brands of tampons you could use if you really struggle... although I only use Tampax and even at my heaviest (beginning) they're fine for me. Can't remember off hand what the box says, but I'm sure you could do some research in to it if it was your last resort.

Also, when you talk to your GP make sure to mention the fact that you can't use tampons as they hurt you. I know my GP was quite insulting when it came to me starting the pill - I started because I read that they take away your cramp pains depending on what pill you're on - and she was looking at me as if I was shagging everyone in sight.

Just in case you have a **** GP who thinks you want this pill so you don't have to refrain from sex whilst you're on your holiday

Judgemental GPs suck.

Oh Jesus, poor you =\
What are your periods normally like, if you don't mind me asking? Are they usually painful?

YES! Which is another reason why I'm scared to go to the GPs. It's some tiny little place on some random road. There's the male GP who I've known since I was a baby - jeebus I couldn't ask him I went to one of the female nurses two weeks ago for injections and she was so rude and scary If it's her, I think I'm going to cry with embarassment.

YES! Which is another reason why I'm scared to go to the GPs. It's some tiny little place on some random road. There's the male GP who I've known since I was a baby - jeebus I couldn't ask him I went to one of the female nurses two weeks ago for injections and she was so rude and scary If it's her, I think I'm going to cry with embarassment.

You'll see a GP not a nurse. And I've had a male GP prescribe me the pill (and for contraceptive purposes), and although I was worried about it being embarrassing it really wasn't at all. You're taking it for your holiday, and even if you were taking it so you could have rampant sex with your best mate's boyfriend, it's not your GP's place to judge nor yours to feel ashamed about it (at least not to the GP)

I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think. And if you really want, unless the practice is actually tiny and there are no female GPs, you can request to see a female GP in any case, and no-one will be the wiser except you and the receptionist.

EDIT: This sounds weird but in my experience if you let go of your apprehension/embarrassment the situation ceases to be embarrassing, it's all pretty casual really.

If either are judgemental I'm sure you could complain. My dad came with me the next time and said she had no right judging me for being on the pill. He said that even if I was sexually active it had nothing to do with her, and should refrain from being an absolute bitch in future (his exact words)

Take your mum maybe?

Yay your dad haha
The GP knows my family pretty well, like, he's the GP for all of us and he's kinda watched me grow up. It's so cringey just to think of talking about delaying my period with him - he's old and sikh aswell (that shouldn't make a difference but it does kinda). Ay ay ay.

Haha, aww bless! Well, if you're really too nervous to go either take someone with you or do some research on tampons OR be a man (not literally!) and go yourself

Sorry to keep bugging you!
But can I not ask the nurse instead of the GP?
Tampons are a no, I'm just gonna have to BE A MAN. Grr.

..yeah XD

I took it for 3 weeks when I went away. You have to take 2 days before you are due to start and keep taking it 3 times a day until you come back from holiday. My period started 2 days after I stopped taking it and I had worse stomach cramps than I've ever had before, and I don't usually get them at all. However, I would say it's worth it because they only lasted a day and saved me 3 weeks of hassle.
Also, you asked how many you get in a pack and someone said 60, but I got mine in packs of 30, so depends on what your doctor prescribes and what your pharmacist has in stock.

I do have quite painful periods. Not as bad as that one though! I have to say though, once those 12 hours had passed, it was fine. Which is stranged because normally I'm in pain for about 2/3 days.
I also lost my virginity over the time I was taking the norethisterone so it's possible that my hormones were all over the place anyway which made the period so much worse.



OP just be really professional when you go in. I'm terribly shy and jsut went in and said 'i'm going on holiday for a week, can I have some norethisterone?' and she asked when my period was due, how long I was away for and printed out the prescription.

Like I asked in an above post, do you know if I could ask the nurse rather than the GP?

I think you have to see the GP, I'm afraid. I know for the 'normal' pill you can see the nurse for your repeat, as all she has to do is check your blood pressure...but they're not allowed to prescribe the pill the first time. I think this applies as well, it's a medication which is going to affect your body etc...a doctor is needed in order for the prescription to be made, I'm pretty sure.

Can I get it from the nurse, rather than the GP?