How to Delay Your Period on the Pill

If you're already on the combined contraceptive pill, you don't need norethisterone — you can usually skip your period by running packs back-to-back. Here's how.

Part of our complete guide to period delay.

If you're already on the combined contraceptive pill, you can usually skip your period by running packs back-to-back. It does not work the same way on the progestogen-only "mini pill," and needs specific advice on multiphasic pills. Here's how, and which pills it works with.

The Bleed on the Pill Isn't a "Real" Period

The bleed during your pill-free week is a withdrawal bleed, triggered by the hormone drop — not a natural period. There's no health need for it, which is why skipping it is safe and increasingly recommended as a normal option.

Combined Pill: How to Run Packs Back-to-Back

• Monophasic pills (e.g. Rigevidon, Microgynon, Cilest, Marvelon, Yasmin — all active pills identical): finish the active pills, then start a new pack's active pills immediately with no break. Skip any inactive/placebo pills.
• 21-day packs: start the next pack the day after your last active pill — no 7-day gap.
• 28-day (with placebos): skip the inactive pills and go straight to the active pills of the next pack.

You can take two or more packs back-to-back. Some breakthrough spotting is common when tricking the cycle, especially the first time — it's not harmful and usually settles.

Multiphasic (Bi/Triphasic) Pills — Get Advice First

Pills where the hormone dose changes through the pack (e.g. Logynon, some phasic brands) can't simply be run back-to-back without planning, because the end and start doses differ. Ask a prescriber how to skip with your specific brand.

The Mini Pill (Progestogen-Only)

The traditional mini pill isn't taken with a break, so there's no withdrawal bleed to skip — bleeding patterns are variable and can't be timed reliably. If controlling your bleed matters for a specific date and you're on the mini pill, speak to a prescriber about options.

If You're Not on the Pill

Back-to-back packs only work if you already take the combined pill. If you don't, norethisterone is the standard route for a one-off delay. See the norethisterone guide or compare all options.

If you're not on the combined pill, Access Doctor's pharmacist independent prescribers can assess you through a short online consultation and, where appropriate, prescribe norethisterone with discreet next-day delivery.